Showing results for downplayed.

downplayed

VERB

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Synonyms

STRONGEST

lessen play down soften

STRONG

devalue whitewash

WEAK

attach little importance to deemphasize give little weight to make light of think nothing of

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.

Oil prices settled lower Tuesday, with Brent around $110 a barrel, after the Pentagon downplayed Iran’s missile strikes.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

But both Caine and Hegseth downplayed those hostilities, with the general describing it as "low harassing fire" and the Pentagon chief saying that "right now, the ceasefire certainly holds."

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

President Donald Trump downplayed the plan’s prospects on Saturday, and Iranian officials were reviewing the U.S. response, according to the Associated Press.

From MarketWatch • May 3, 2026

Russian authorities have mostly downplayed the significance of these attacks.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

In front of me, my parents still downplayed the seriousness of events.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson