as in downplayed
to reduce in apparent importance
she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaled
Verb
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But experts on the group have downplayed the evidence released so far.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
13 Sep. 2025 -
The Chiefs have since downplayed any lingering fallout from the tense TV moment.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Retinoids can cause dryness and flaking, but this can be minimized or even prevented altogether when gradually introduced to the skin, starting with lower concentrations.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
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Officials repeatedly minimized fire risks and touted the benefits of letting the fire burn, according to The Republic's findings.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Miami’s cartophile Argentine defender Tomas Aviles saw his second yellow of the night after pulling back Toklomati and was dismissed in the 79th minute, leaving Messi and his teammates down a man for the final stages.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Fletcher, who was considered a strong contender for a state Senate seat in March 2023 when Figueroa filed her complaint, spoke publicly Friday about the allegations one month after a judge dismissed it.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-pedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaled. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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