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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
After the inaugural address, Trump played down the importance of inflation in the 2024 election, suggesting that his voters cared more about immigration because there was only so many ways to talk about prices.
—
Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Friday's trip could prompt some uncomfortable conversations about climate change, which Trump has played down and denied.
—Will Weissert, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
The 18-year-old then missed the 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, but manager Mikel Arteta has played down the extent of the injury.
—Art De Roché, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
But for the third game in a row and second at home, the Terps (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) played down to the level of competition.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play down 
Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Friday's trip could prompt some uncomfortable conversations about climate change, which Trump has played down and denied.
—Will Weissert, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
The 18-year-old then missed the 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, but manager Mikel Arteta has played down the extent of the injury.
—Art De Roché, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
But for the third game in a row and second at home, the Terps (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) played down to the level of competition.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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But in October, 2023, Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar, whose office prosecutes crimes across the county, decided to drop charges after a motion to dismiss was filed by the defense.—
Alex Malm,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Along with pardoning some 1,500 Jan. 6 convicts, Trump’s DOJ moved to dismiss all pending Jan. 6 prosecutions in the District of Columbia.—
Nick Akerman,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Our limited newsletter series guides you on how to minimize your personal role in the climate crisis — and reduce your eco-anxiety.—
Martha Shade,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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Why did so many economists and policymakers minimize the potential devastation that free trade with China would wreak on many Americans?—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The 27-year-old’s contract with the energy drink company will run down in 2028.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
11 Feb. 2025
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The Luna Gray case is understated, with only a white LED strip running down the front panel for visual flair.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Recent presidents have increasingly turned to memoranda in part to downplay their exercise of substantive unilateral action usually associated with executive orders.—
Meredith Conroy,
ABC News,
6 Feb. 2025
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The move was seen as a way to downplay Trump's fears of Chinese influence on Panama Canal.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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No, that is not Wellens’ brutal honesty coming to the fore by talking down City with potentially inflammatory comments ahead of the big tie… that’s his wife Nicola, who will also be there on Saturday.—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
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Unfortunately, Burleson was talking down to his audience, some who might dare to disagree with him.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Jean-Baptiste, her mouth set in a tight-lipped frown, her eyes ablaze with fear and loathing, soft-pedals nothing.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2025
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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
Verb
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And so my part was always diminished in his presence.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
2 Feb. 2025
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The production of melanocytes (skin cells that synthesize melanin) diminishes, leading to the appearance of gray hair.—
Marie Courtois,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Under current Internal Revenue Service rules, such intangible assets can be written off through amortization over 15 years, even if the team remains highly profitable.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
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Donald Trump obviously left office on a sour note in January 2021, written off by many opinion-makers and political professionals.—
Rich Lowry,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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 16 Feb. 2025.
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