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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
In the aftermath,Tammany leaders played down their ambitions and put on demure faces in public.
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Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Television’s tendency to play down to the masses — manipulating our individual needs for attention, for agreement, or simply to win — is an insuperable problem at this particular, shameless moment in pop culture.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024
Mbappé was substituted in the final moments of Tuesday night's 3-2 win over Deportivo Alavés, but coach Carlo Ancelotti played down any injury concerns as a precautionary measure.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
The company played down the financial impact in September, saying the drug Oxbryta brought in a little over $300 million last year.
—Rohan Goswami, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play down 
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Television’s tendency to play down to the masses — manipulating our individual needs for attention, for agreement, or simply to win — is an insuperable problem at this particular, shameless moment in pop culture.
—Armond White, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024
Mbappé was substituted in the final moments of Tuesday night's 3-2 win over Deportivo Alavés, but coach Carlo Ancelotti played down any injury concerns as a precautionary measure.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
The company played down the financial impact in September, saying the drug Oxbryta brought in a little over $300 million last year.
—Rohan Goswami, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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The company dismissed its previous auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, and engaged WithumSmith+Brown, PC as its new auditor.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
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Douglas, who was in the final year of his contract after being hired in 2019, was not consulted by Johnson when the owner made the decision to dismiss Saleh and replace him on an interim basis with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.Dennis Waszak Jr., Twin Cities, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Be sure your plan considers ways to minimize family income taxes over time.Bob Carlson, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
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Washing a potato before cooking is one way to minimize any risks.Lauren David, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Miss Petersen came back into the room and tears were running down her cheeks.Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
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Abdallahi then ran down an alley, cut through a yard and then circled back toward the ambulance as paramedics were loading the injured man.Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The Biden administration’s latest editions, however, downplay minimizing business paperwork burdens on the productive class.Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell downplayed Trump’s threat of his removal, though economists anticipate the new president may not extend Powell’s term beyond its 2026 expiration.Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 9 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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Black Lives Matter is severely diminished as an institution.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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As new ways become familiar, employees recognize their advantages, and resistance gradually diminishes.Peter Follows, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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While national polls continue to forecast a race far too close to predict, Harris was found to be leading Trump in Iowa, an unexpected reversal for Democrats and Republicans who have all but written off the state’s presidential contest as a certain Trump victory.Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
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The Slough House spies are too prickly and vulnerable to be written off so easily.Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 9 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 30 Nov. 2024.
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