Added to
Favorites
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Word Dynamo
Quotes
Reference
Translator
Spanish
Log In
Sign Up
Introducing a cool
new way to learn!
downplay
Use
Downplay
in a sentence
down·play
/
ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ
/
Show Spelled
[
doun
-pley
]
Show IPA
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.
Origin:
1950–55;
down
1
+
play
, from verb phrase
play down
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
downplay
Collins
World English Dictionary
downplay
(ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ)
—
vb
(
tr
) to play down; make little of
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Relevant Questions
How To Downplay Large Br...
What Is Down·play?
How To Downplay Broad Sh...
What Is Downplaying?
How To Downplay Large Br...
What Is Downplaying?
How To Downplay Broad Sh...
What Is Down·play?
00:10
Downplay
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is
subtilize
. Does it mean:
So is
peculate
. Does it mean:
So is
kibitz
. Does it mean:
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to bark; yelp.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
chat, to converse
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
downplay
de-emphasize, 1968, from
down
(adv.) +
play
(v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
It will be something that right-wing news outlets will either
downplay
or
credit to the last president.
Lester, not unexpectedly, tried to
downplay
the practice.
We often
downplay
the importance of ceremony and ritual in university life.
None of which is meant to
downplay
the results of tonight's caucuses.
We should not
downplay
the magnitude of the challenge the commission faces.
In fact, even with the regulations companies still try and take short-cuts and
downplay
the damage they do.
In other words, they may not fully acknowledge what has happened to them or they may
downplay
the intensity of the experience.
Aboard his plane, however, the secretary tries to
downplay
the importance of the budget votes.
Part of the masquerade is to
downplay
or deny or not even mention other factors.
Coming from a government that usually strives to
downplay
bad news, this is a clear indication of a truly dire situation.
Use Dictionary.com faster without ads >>
Matching Quote
"Put simply, conservatives highlight the government's role in promoting individual virtue but
downplay
the government's responsibility to create a society in which virtue can flourish. Liberals are wary of regulating personal behavior, but would give government a powerful say over the shape of social and economic life. In essence, liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities."
-E.J. Dionne, Jr.
MORE
Related Searches
Inhumane
Nearby Words
downhole
downhome
downie
downiness
downing
downing street
downing, sir ge...
downless
downlight
downlike
downlink
download
downloadable
downloading
downlooked
downlying
downmarket
downpatrick
downpayment
downpipe
downplay
downpour
downrange
downrate
downregulation
downrigger
downright
downrightly
downrightness
downriver
downs
downs syndrome
downs-syndrome
downscale
downshift
downshifter
downshifting
downside
downsitting
downsize
downsizing
Synonyms
soften
lessen
MORE
Synonym Game
whitewash
PLAY
Partners:
Word
Bloglines
Citysearch
The Daily Beast
Ask Answers
Ask Kids
Life123
Sendori
Home Advisor
Copyright ©
2013 Dictionary.com, LLC
. All rights reserved.
About
PRIVACY POLICY
Terms
API
Careers
Advertise with Us
Contact Us
Suggest a Word
Help
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Favorites feature
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT