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
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Recent Examples of play down
The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment on Cassidy’s characterization of the meeting and some Republicans tried to play down the clash.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The timeless design adds warmth and texture to a nursery today and promises years of imaginative play down the road.
—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Against Costa Rica, when Konsa started alongside Stones, the Aston Villa man frequently became the central player in a back three, while Stones would look to progress play down the left.
—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Next play down, get it to Towns to draw a double and release to Mikal Bridges, who finds Alvarado all alone on the weakside for an easy three.
—
Kyle Wagner,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The timeless design adds warmth and texture to a nursery today and promises years of imaginative play down the road.
—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Against Costa Rica, when Konsa started alongside Stones, the Aston Villa man frequently became the central player in a back three, while Stones would look to progress play down the left.
—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Next play down, get it to Towns to draw a double and release to Mikal Bridges, who finds Alvarado all alone on the weakside for an easy three.
—
Kyle Wagner,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for play down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for play down
Verb
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In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
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Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
Verb
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To minimize risks during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises incorporating frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
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Keep all windows and doors closed so your pet cannot easily escape, and draw the shades to minimize the sound and flashes of light.
Verb
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Everyone inside the building ran down the emergency stairs.
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On a broken possession with the shot clock running down, Thornton caught the ball in the right corner with space to shoot.
Verb
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Streamers including Netflix have downplayed their interest in taking on solo ownership of the Emmys and the fact hat none of these companies has snapped up the rights so far is telling.
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Kevin Hassett, director of the White House's National Economic Council, downplayed Thursday's report, pointing to a positive trend for the labor market in previous months.
Verb
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The movie goes from this weird, seedy love motel to the industrial backwaters, and these long walks and talks down empty streets.
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The scale is the thing, who don't necessarily know or understand or appreciate, not talking down to anybody, but this is the way in which this thing will have access to your stuff, can go wrong potentially.
Verb
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Questlove is too much of a humanist to soft-pedal’s Maurice White’s contradictions.
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Old school with a gift for storytelling, Simon was not one to soft-pedal his mentees.
Verb
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Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
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Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
Verb
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EBay is quietly rebuilding a growth story that many investors had already written off.
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For an instrument that many observers had written off as a pandemic-era anomaly, SPAC is having a very loud second act.
Cite this Entry
“Play down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/play%20down. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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