as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
you're at a point in your career where you can de-emphasize your academic record and emphasize your work experience
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Recent Examples of de-emphasize
Some pitchers will de-emphasize their breaking pitches at Coors Field because of the effects of the altitude.
—
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
The Trump administration also wants to de-emphasize electric vehicles.
—Bill Koenig, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Instead, most of them promise to refine the experience by adding features that are typical for other mixed-reality platforms and refocusing on the wins the platform has had, de-emphasizing the misses.
—Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
More Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images The Warriors, meanwhile, would prefer to harness him as a downhill scorer and athletic defender, while de-emphasizing his time with the ball.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
The Trump administration also wants to de-emphasize electric vehicles.
—Bill Koenig, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Instead, most of them promise to refine the experience by adding features that are typical for other mixed-reality platforms and refocusing on the wins the platform has had, de-emphasizing the misses.
—Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
More Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images The Warriors, meanwhile, would prefer to harness him as a downhill scorer and athletic defender, while de-emphasizing his time with the ball.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-emphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-emphasize
Verb
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That's why ignoring minor misbehavior (as long as no one is being harmed) and praising positive choices is one of the most effective ways to manage and minimize attention-seeking behaviors.1 2.—
Amy Morin,
Parents,
7 July 2025
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These workshops taught cognitive skills aimed at maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses typically associated with their specific most strongly outlying trait.—
Maia Szalavitz,
Scientific American,
7 July 2025
Verb
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The senior State Department official downplayed the study.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
13 July 2025
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The man who has turned Paris Saint-Germain from an excellent side to the best club soccer team on the planet has even downplayed his role with the FIFA Club World Cup final against Chelsea at MetLife Stadium looming on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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So far, nearly 60,000 federal employees have been dismissed, with the State Department layoffs marking the latest round of cuts.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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With the reciprocal tariffs, Trump is dismissing the rules governing world trade.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Verb
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In 2024, Paul Weiss didn’t soft-pedal its liberal leanings.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2025
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Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft-pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-emphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-emphasize. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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