1
as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to minimize
to reduce in apparent importance
if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of play down
Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked.
—
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Overall in the series, Florida is 7 for 8 on the penalty and has allowed just six total shots on goal when playing down a man.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
Both players have played down the rivalry, but their fan bases are often vociferous in their dislike of the opposing player.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron's office Monday played down the moment his wife, Brigitte Macron, appeared to shove him in the face in Vietnam at the start of the couple's Southeast Asia tour.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Overall in the series, Florida is 7 for 8 on the penalty and has allowed just six total shots on goal when playing down a man.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025
Both players have played down the rivalry, but their fan bases are often vociferous in their dislike of the opposing player.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron's office Monday played down the moment his wife, Brigitte Macron, appeared to shove him in the face in Vietnam at the start of the couple's Southeast Asia tour.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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In a series of tweets, Charli XCX dismissed the controversy and defended her creative choices.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
30 June 2025
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The decision dismissed most claims in the lawsuit filed by authors who alleged that their books were used, without permission, to train Anthropic’s Claude AI models.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Here are some strategies for carving up a large restaurant bill to minimize stress on wait staff and prevent fights among tablemates.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
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Specifically, their proprietary algorithms forecast store and product sales across millions of SKUs and diverse product lines to maximize inventory turns, minimize overstock and, importantly, drive sales.—
Noah Barsky,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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With the 2025 New York City Pride March, Rise Up: Pride In Protest, running down Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 29, the city is full of celebrations and specials.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets runs down the floor during the first half of game seven of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
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There are a number of reasons why, ranging from the comparatively low death toll to concerted efforts by contemporary civic boosters and business interests to downplay the extent of the damage.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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As political misalignment in the United States emerges as a material investment risk, investors and companies are increasingly risking their long-term sustainability by downplaying it.—
Bhakti Mirchandani,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Don’t patronize, don’t over-explain, don’t talk down to them in any way.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Nobody likes being talked down to, and the movies that are delivering more than one kind of dopamine hit are what’s connecting.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 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
Verb
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Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 June 2025
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Flagg won’t be the only rookie cashing in: Every first-round selection in this year’s draft is projected to earn a seven-figure salary, although each slot has a diminishing value.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Despite Haliburton’s assertion, Indiana was written off as dead.—
Shakeia Taylor,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Neither Arizona -- which took down North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional -- nor Murray State, which upset Duke in the Durham Super Regional, should be written off after both won their super regional matchups as road 'dogs.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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