downplay

American

[doun-pley] / ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ /

verb (used with object)

to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc..

The press has downplayed the president's role in the negotiations.

downplay British

/ ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ /

verb

(tr) to play down; make little of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of downplay

1950–55; down ¹ + play, from verb phrase play down

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Carragher is also facing a council motion in which she is accused of having ignored or downplayed complaints about Linden.

From BBC

De Zerbi is accused of downplaying the allegations and painting Greenwood as a victim.

From BBC

Some retail executives on recent earnings calls have downplayed the potential impact of higher gas prices on consumer spending.

From MarketWatch

"It makes sense to downplay the overall financial exposure so investors don't leave," Eric Goldman, an associate dean and professor at Santa Clara University School of Law in Silicon Valley, told the BBC.

From BBC

KMU had earlier accused the administration of downplaying the situation, saying claims that "everything is normal" were misleading.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023