1
as in to understate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underplay
Gonski said that in addition to overstating certifiers’ responsibilities, Follow the Law’s messaging underplays the protections that already exist.
—
Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this controversial Claire Denis work, her longtime themes of desire and survival are crystallized in a dead-eyed probe into understanding our most base impulses and the tension underplaying unsteady erotic connections.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Just using endorsement badges to facilitate user choice could be underplaying its value, however.
—London Business School, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
But a new analysis this week from the Associated Press concludes the report was based on old data that underplayed the extent of the military’s extremism problem.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this controversial Claire Denis work, her longtime themes of desire and survival are crystallized in a dead-eyed probe into understanding our most base impulses and the tension underplaying unsteady erotic connections.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Just using endorsement badges to facilitate user choice could be underplaying its value, however.
—London Business School, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
But a new analysis this week from the Associated Press concludes the report was based on old data that underplayed the extent of the military’s extremism problem.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
-
Standard accounting practices based on historical cost and depreciation schedules currently understate the actual replacement cost of legacy investments.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The impact of City’s commercial growth can hardly be understated.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
The Athletic,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The need to continue developing faster and bigger networks may therefore be overplayed today.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Feb. 2025
-
The uselessness of law enforcement can be overplayed in some lesser horror films to the point of losing tension.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
However, their skills were often downplayed by claims that they’d been signed to generate ticket sales and boost interest in the struggling league.—
Callie Maddox,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2025
-
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
-
One of the underlying actuarial assumptions of Social Security when it was enacted, apparently, was that the government wouldn’t be paying a whole lot of money to a whole lot of retirees.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Illinois, California and Minnesota have enacted laws protecting the earnings of young creators, and Minnesota's law includes a similar provision to Utah's that allows content featuring minors to be taken down.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
-
There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation.—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Durant can, at times, string together 8-10 minute long takes, acting out everything in a particular scene, so precision is key.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2025
-
However, Trump is far from the only one pushing this idea: several states are considering their own versions, including Oklahoma, which passed a strategic Bitcoin reserve act out of committee last week.—
Andrew R. Chow,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
No playwright of the modern era has more compassionately — or accurately — dramatized the human consciousness of time, loss and the gap between hope and reality.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
-
This clever, focus-shifting structure allows showrunners Robbins and Sarah Sutherland to dramatize the most lurid, horror-movie aspects of the story without appearing to endorse one version over another.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Designers are quick to spot—and avoid—materials that mimic luxury but fall flat.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Moving Racks for Better Yield: The strawberries transition seamlessly between warmth during the day and cooler temperatures at night, mimicking natural conditions and increasing annual production.—
Chrissy Tracey,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share