Standard Lemma guide

de-emphasize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /diːˈɛmfəsaɪz/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove or reduce the emphasis from something; to make something less important; to play down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: downplay, make light of, understate, bagatellize, banalize, belittle, cut down, de-emphasize, denigrate, degrade, deprecate, derogate, disparage, dispraise, lilliputianize, make little of, make nothing of, minimize, play down, set at nought, superficialize, trivialize, underestimate, underplay, vilipend

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

reduce the emphasis

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: de-emphasise, destress

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: reduce

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- English emphasize English de-emphasize From de- + emphasize.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Irish: dí-bhéimnigh — Translations