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.

Rubio, a devout Catholic, sought to play down the rift ahead of the private audience, which will be followed by talks with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

On Monday, Sir Keir sought to play down any sense of a rift with the civil service when he told MPs: "We have thousands of civil servants who act with integrity and professionalism every day."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The bill proposes to make it illegal to implicitly condone or play down acts of terrorism, extending the scope of existing legislation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

But he appeared to play down the significance of the stockpile, pointing to the damage caused in US-Israeli strikes last June.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

“Until recently, given the students’ enthusiasm for the reading groups, I was able to play down that data,” she wrote.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove