verb
Meaning 1
To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- The essay attempts to play down the role slavery had in the Civil War.
- The senator played down the threat of a recession.
- During the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, Miguel played down his immigrant status by removing Chicano patois from his speech and adopting the nickname "Mike."
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: de-emphasize, downplay, bagatellize, banalize, belittle, cut down, denigrate, degrade, deprecate, derogate, disparage, dispraise, lilliputianize, make little of, make nothing of, minimize, play down, set at nought, superficialize, trivialize, underestimate, underplay, understate, vilipend
Antonyms: play up, big up, cut it fat, exaggerate, hyperbolize, overcharge, overdo, overemphasize, overstate, stretch, three-sheet