Definitions

make light of

VERB

downplay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

lessen play down soften

STRONG

devalue whitewash

WEAK

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

VERB

minimize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

curtail decrease diminish downplay lessen play down reduce trivialize underestimate

STRONG

abbreviate attenuate belittle cheapen decry deprecate depreciate derogate detract discount disparage dwarf knock miniaturize pan pooh-pooh prune shrink underplay

WEAK

cut down to size knock down make little of poor-mouth put down run down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen prolong raise strengthen

STRONG

approve build up commend compliment exalt laud praise

WEAK

maximize overestimate overrate

VERB

neglect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

discount disregard ignore overlook reject spurn underestimate

STRONG

affront condemn depreciate despise detest disdain dismiss pretermit rebuff scant scorn slight slur

WEAK

brush aside brush off have nothing to do with keep at arm's length keep one's distance laugh off let go live with not care for pass by pass over pass up pay no attention to pay no mind shrug off tune out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attend heed look at note notice pay attention recognize regard respect

STRONG

admire approve cherish compliment flatter like love praise welcome

WEAK

accomplish achieve complete concern do finish guard nurture protect succeed take care of watch

VERB

overlook

Synonyms

STRONGEST

discount forget ignore omit

STRONG

disdain miss overpass pass slight

WEAK

fail to notice leave out leave undone let fall between the cracks let go let slide pass by pay no attention slip up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

pay attention recognize remember

STRONG

get praise

WEAK

attend deny follow heed honor look at notice prevent refuse regard respect serve veto

VERB

palliate

Synonyms

STRONG

abate allay alleviate assuage camouflage cloak conceal condone cover diminish disguise dissemble ease exculpate excuse extenuate hide justify lessen lighten mask minimize mitigate moderate mollify prettify qualify relieve screen soften soothe sugarcoat temper varnish veil veneer vindicate white whiten whitewash

WEAK

apologize for gloze hush up put on a Band-Aid quick fix

Antonyms

STRONG

accuse aggravate agitate allow blacken blame burden condemn darken depress disclose divulge enlarge expose extend incite increase intensify irritate lay bare let out magnify open prolong provoke reveal sentence show strip tell trouble uncover unmask upset worry worsen

VERB

play down

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle deemphasize gloss over minimize mute soft pedal soften underplay

WEAK

hold back make little of restrain underrate

Antonyms

WEAK

blow up build up explode play up

VERB

pooh-pooh

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle play down repudiate

STRONG

discount disregard rebuff reject

WEAK

brush aside scoff at sneer at treat with contempt wave aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build up

STRONG

attend pay attention

VERB

scoff

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle deride jeer mock reject ridicule scorn sneer

STRONG

boo contemn disbelieve discount discredit disdain flout gibe knock pan pooh-pooh rag rally revile ride tease

WEAK

dig at laugh at poke fun at show contempt

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve compliment flatter praise

STRONG

admire believe commend honor respect trust

WEAK

be nice

VERB

slight

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disparage scorn snub

STRONG

affront chill contemn cool cut despise discount disdain disregard flout forget ignore neglect omit overlook pooh-pooh reject scoff skip slur upstage

WEAK

blink at brush off cold-shoulder give the brush give the cold shoulder to not give time of day show disrespect shrug off sneeze at treat with contempt turn deaf ear to

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve

STRONG

admire attend cherish compliment esteem heed honor note notice pay attention praise recognize regard respect

WEAK

flatter

VERB

underestimate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle miscalculate underrate undervalue

STRONG

deprecate depreciate disesteem disparage miscarry slight

WEAK

not do justice put down sell short think too little of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

exaggerate overestimate overrate overvalue praise value

STRONG

approve commend compliment flatter laud

WEAK

maximize

VERB

whitewash

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cover up gloss over

STRONG

blanch camouflage conceal exonerate extenuate launder liberate paint palliate sugarcoat suppress varnish veneer vindicate whiten

Antonyms

STRONG

accuse blame condemn reveal sentence show strip uncover

WEAK

expose tell the truth

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.

Che was made to make light of molestation claims against Michael Jackson.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Ms. Sy-Quia does not make light of the church even as her story crashes against the limits of its reforms.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Kaufman stressed: "The defence does not disrespect the soul of any deceased person, nor does it make light of the loss of life."

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

X owner Elon Musk and other executives at xAI—the artificial intelligence company that now owns X Corporation—appeared to make light of the matter before acknowledging that they needed to “tighten our gaurdrails.”

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2026

Now strangers see them together and they think he’s her father, and that embarrasses them, though they smile and try to make light of it.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

make light of

Example Sentences

Related Words