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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of play down
The Chiefs know something about playing down a man or two at the position.
—
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Like Justin, Sam Byram can play down both sides too, ensuring Farke will feel well covered as this season unfolds.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Nix's fine play down the stretch, along with a few notable offseason additions, has led to some rosy predictions for the Broncos this coming season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025
That would seem to bode well for a team that has rarely played down to its competition this season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Like Justin, Sam Byram can play down both sides too, ensuring Farke will feel well covered as this season unfolds.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Nix's fine play down the stretch, along with a few notable offseason additions, has led to some rosy predictions for the Broncos this coming season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
-
This adds to anticipation over whether the judge will decide that the case can proceed in Delaware and if dismissed, will the Macrons appeal or refile elsewhere.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In court filings, Burnell has argued the council lacks the legal basis to sue and asked for the claims to be dismissed.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Shea butter and hyaluronic acid join coconut and Kalahari melon oils to add a surge of strand-softening hydration, minimizing shrinkage in the process.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Traders establish firm processes on when to buy and when to sell—supported with limit orders—to minimize emotional decision-making.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Rosie runs down the road to greet her owner.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The go-ahead touchdown was a strike to Ebube Okwelume, who ran down the sideline for a 77-yard score.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs have since downplayed any lingering fallout from the tense TV moment.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Indian leaders have also downplayed the area’s earthquake risk while citing tsunamis as a reason why the Great Nicobarese indigenous people living in government camps cannot return to their ancestral villages.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Challenge them, don’t talk down to them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Worldfor never talking down to me or being too afraid to address the hard things in life.—
Anna Earl,
Parents,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nothing grates quite like those slick pharmaceutical ads blaring across the TV, promising quick fixes while soft-pedaling potential side effects.—
Alex Ward,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
-
This soft-pedalling impulse is evident in the revival’s treatment of Hank’s next-door neighbor Dale, a conspiracy nut who blames the U.N., the U.S. military, and the Cuban government for life’s inconveniences.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But with Burrow now looking likely to miss the majority of the regular season, those chances look severely diminished.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
One potential problem with this set-up is that the SCORE Act diminishes the role of state law in subject areas traditionally governed by states.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For a company that many investors had written off, the turnaround has been both swift and dramatic.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
No one is writing off the Lions by any means (Detroit and Green Bay have the shortest odds to win the NFC after Philadelphia).—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share