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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
Stokely repeatedly played down OnlyFans’ focus on adult content.
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Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The Lions have the ball at their own 36-yard line with two minutes to play down three points.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2024
Too often, benefits are exaggerated and risks played down—a formula especially dangerous for adolescents and those suffering from chronic conditions.
—Michel Van Harten, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
At a news conference in Brussels, EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka of Hungary played down the commission’s concerns.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play down 
Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The Lions have the ball at their own 36-yard line with two minutes to play down three points.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2024
Too often, benefits are exaggerated and risks played down—a formula especially dangerous for adolescents and those suffering from chronic conditions.
—Michel Van Harten, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
At a news conference in Brussels, EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka of Hungary played down the commission’s concerns.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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Some critics of President Biden may dismiss his recent apology of the federal Indian boarding schools as a strategy to win votes in what was a tight presidential election race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
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Hamlin offered a glimpse into his conversation with Forde, heatedly recounting how online criticisms of the playoff system were dismissed.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In contrast, the single-bore method minimizes street-level disruption.Dan Phan, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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This method, which is based on the idea of moving to where the hottest deer sign and action can be found, is used by many hunters who decide to minimize their hunting gear footprint and overall carry weight.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Quartz’s Rocio Fabbro runs down Powell’s limited chatter about it.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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In the end, Manchester United was able to run down the remainder of the clock, end its six-year trophy wait – the club’s longest wait for a major trophy since 1983 – and possibly usher in a new era at the club.Ben Church, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Many Hindu nationalists, however, downplay or reject this scenario, in part because of its lingering association with colonial narratives about a race of fair-skinned Aryans conquering the region.ByVaishnavi Chandrashekhar, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
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In relationships with strong traditional roles, many women feel pressure to downplay or keep their differing views quiet to maintain peace with their partners.Erin Coulehan, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Does your party have a disdain problem in talking down to working class voters in particular?CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2024
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Gargoyles Few cartoons are as recognized for their mature storytelling as Gargoyles, a prime example of not talking down to a young audience.Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
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The movie One of the darkest true stories on this list, An American Crime never undersells or soft-pedals the ceaseless agony of Likens’ ordeal.Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
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Popular on Variety Navarro doesn’t soft-pedal her disdain for recent remarks former President Donald Trump has made about immigrants eating dogs and cats — just one of the hot topics Phillip and a shifting ensemble of pundits, reporters and experts tackle each weeknight.Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024
Verb
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As new ways become familiar, employees recognize their advantages, and resistance gradually diminishes.Peter Follows, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Black Lives Matter is severely diminished as an institution.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Both campaigns had all but written off Iowa as a surefire Trump victory.Paolo Confino, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
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Many might write off the space, saying lower, angled ceilings make the room unusable, but not Welch.Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near play down
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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