1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
Even as stocks have plunged, Trump and his administration have played down the decline.
—
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Though some are talking up the match at the Metropolitano - Flick’s first match there as Barca boss - as a potential title race decider, Flick played down its importance.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Opening day is just over three weeks away, and the Sox are already playing down to expectations in Cactus League play.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Despite his age, the Arkansas Pine-Bluff product played at an elite level in 2024 before a knee injury significantly impacted his play down the stretch.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Though some are talking up the match at the Metropolitano - Flick’s first match there as Barca boss - as a potential title race decider, Flick played down its importance.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Opening day is just over three weeks away, and the Sox are already playing down to expectations in Cactus League play.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Despite his age, the Arkansas Pine-Bluff product played at an elite level in 2024 before a knee injury significantly impacted his play down the stretch.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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To dismiss it, as the President tried yesterday, is incredible and not fair to our men and women in uniform.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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The case was dismissed after the judge overseeing the case ruled prosecutors did not properly turn over evidence to the defense.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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South Korea’s acting President, Han Duck-soo, ordered emergency support measures for industries and businesses that will be impacted, including the automobile industry, ordering officials to actively negotiate with Washington to minimize the impact of additional levies.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2025
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Through its key complex, this shampoo is able to condition strands and minimize frizz without the weighty, greasy feel of heavier oils.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The trend over the past two years of the relative strength of shipments compared to the weakness of new orders, unfilled orders, and inventories appears to indicate that companies have been burning off their backlogs and running down work-in-progress inventories.—
Jason Schenker,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Listen to this article About a dozen other hikers were nearby Sunday morning when a young man running down the popular Cowles Mountain trail in San Carlos stopped and fired a gun at a group of young men holding rocks who were chasing him and his female companion, according to a witness.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rader downplayed the difference in numbers between his findings and the CDC data, emphasizing that, while accurate, the CDC data does not provide a complete picture — despite its best intentions.—
Shiv Sudhakar,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2025
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Trump and other top administration officials have downplayed the use of the Signal to discuss the attack, saying classified information was not shared in the chat, despite the exchange including information on the weapons systems being used and the timing of the strikes.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Trump acknowledged in a Fox News Radio interview with Brian Kilmeade that Russia attacked Ukraine but still suggested former President Biden and Zelensky shared blame for failing to talk down Moscow.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 Feb. 2025
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But Jones has talked down a possible bout with Aspinall and suggested that a battle with current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira made more sense to him.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In 2024, Paul Weiss didn’t soft-pedal its liberal leanings.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2025
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Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft-pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The VMAs, which have seen their social capital diminish over the past few years, delivered a promising ceremony in 2024.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
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As time went on, her pain diminished, but August decided to go to the emergency room.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There are plenty of reasons not to write off Warren as a potential Bills draft pick.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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The streamer later wrote off over $55 million in costs.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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