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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of play down
Brighton pressed City high at goal kicks, trying to bait them into playing down their own right-side before jumping aggressively to lock them in.
—
Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
Once more, Capello played down comparisons between FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Maryland men’s basketball nearly played down to its competition — again.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2025
Pedro Neto was played down the wing, at which point Chelsea had five players up in support of the ball versus six Arsenal defenders.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
Once more, Capello played down comparisons between FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Maryland men’s basketball nearly played down to its competition — again.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2025
Pedro Neto was played down the wing, at which point Chelsea had five players up in support of the ball versus six Arsenal defenders.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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Male police officers often dismissed these types of cases as private family matters, leaving women and children without much legal protection from their abusive husbands and fathers.—
Peter Zablocki,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
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Some say the race was always going to be difficult to win due to inflation and criticism toward the party dismissing concerns about former President Joe Biden's age.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In relationships, this dynamic plays out as toxic positivity — the tendency to dismiss or minimize distress in favor of maintaining an upbeat tone.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Just Hit the Market for $32 Million Long before Bo Derek ran down the beach in her Fulani braids and Farrah Fawcett posed in that iconic red swimsuit, there was Welch in her infamous doeskin bikini as seen in One Billion Years B.C.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
9 Apr. 2025
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As the clock ran down in the third period with overtime looming, the Eagles took the lead for good with 1:17 remaining in the third period.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Beginning in the 1960s, American food companies—some of which have been run by tobacco companies—engaged in nefarious corporate practices to create addictive products like sugary drinks, heavily market those products to the American public, and aggressively downplay their health harms.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
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Training rather than bravery In several interviews over the years, McCarthy has downplayed the notion that bravery had much to do with his actions.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
30 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 previous six champions were all diminished the following season by either injuries or significant roster changes.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Lacy turned himself in to police on Jan. 12, but his NFL Draft prospects were significantly diminished by the wreck.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Private jet John and Joanna French won their case in 1990 to write off their private jet on their 1984 taxes.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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Her character was eventually written off the latter series, which Carpenter has said was directly related to her decision to have a baby.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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