as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance
she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in criticism
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaling
Verb
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2025 -
These kinds of films are already built on minimizing pain, not just for our hero but for all the characters.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies statewide have signed partnership agreements with ICE, drawing criticisms from some residents.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
8 July 2025
-
The unusually blunt and sobering assessment drew sharp criticism, including from her colleagues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Too often, boards respond by downplaying concerns, offering vague explanations, or shifting blame elsewhere.—
Committee of 200,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Abandoning Ukraine and Europe and downplaying the Middle East to prioritize the Indo-Pacific is not a clever geopolitical chess move.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most importantly, the proposal provides that, when discovery items are turned over belatedly, judges can impose consequences that stop short of dismissing the whole case, if a lesser remedy can ensure fairness to the defendant.—
Jane Manning,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2025
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Just a few days later, the Israeli government effectively began the process of dismissing Gali Baharav-Miara, Israel’s attorney general.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As America celebrates its 249th anniversary and a declaration of independence from tyranny on July 4, Bolick's comments represent his most piercing and direct condemnation of actions taken by the country's highest political leaders.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
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The suppression of dissent drew international condemnation, and the U.S. and the European Union imposed sanctions on Belarus.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Bill Ackman, the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, wrote a 4000-word denunciation of DEI programs in January.—
Michael Posner,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Musk, who donated nearly $275 million toward Trump’s 2024 election campaign, on Tuesday posted on X an unambiguous denunciation of the bill, which is called the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Libby's censure was initially passed on Feb. 25 by a vote of 75-70.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
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Iran said other measures were also being planned in response to the U.N. agency's censure.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2025
Noun
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After nights of clashes, then-President Donald Trump, known for issuing directives and invectives through social media, fired off a series of posts shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
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Douglas McCarthy, the vocalist who hectored anarchic invective with EBM innovators Nitzer Ebb and who joined Depeche Mode keyboardist Alan Wilder’s Recoil side project, died Wednesday at the age of 58.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaling. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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