soft-pedaling 1 of 2

noun

as in criticism

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Dissimilar Words

soft-pedaling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of soft-pedal
as in minimizing
to reduce in apparent importance she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people

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 soft-pedaling
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 Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedaling
  1. criticism
  2. minimizing
  3. minimization
  4. downplaying
  5. condemnation
  6. dismissing
  7. denunciation
  8. denouncement
Noun
  • The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • Asked about the greenwashing criticism, a Council spokesperson said companies active in the fossil fuel sector can still contribute to the transition, for example by developing low-carbon fuels or building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of criticism
Verb
  • The end goal should not be minimizing the number of systems per se, but rather making sure those systems can be adjusted and integrated quickly to keep up with changing business demands.
    — Eugenia Mykuliak, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Under the former, the priority is to continue providing water and wastewater services while minimizing creditor losses and restructuring the company so a new owner can be found.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 1 July 2026
Definition of minimizing
Noun
  • The Legacy Trust concept is not fundamentally about tax minimization or dynastic wealth (although it can easily be adapted as appropriate for those purposes).
    — Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Owning mistakes matters, but there’s a difference between accountability and reflexive self-minimization.
    — Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Definition of minimization
Verb
  • But critics have accused them of downplaying the risks.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 June 2026
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed while downplaying any concerns.
    — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Definition of downplaying
Noun
  • Following an inspection in March, the city issued a formal notice of condemnation and order to vacate, as only about 17% of the rooms inspected passed.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • The admission drew immediate condemnation from Democratic lawmakers.
    — Ana Ceballos Follow, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of condemnation
Verb
  • The program was established by state lawmakers in 2018 as a way to help stem the tide of mental illness in jails and prisons, usually by dismissing cases and offering treatment for the underlying conditions behind a defendant’s arrest.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Manchester, for example, was in court for a year after dismissing a contractor from the Parkade redevelopment job, and ended up paying $2 million.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
Definition of dismissing
Noun
  • The bicentennial occurred during an election year, with all the partisan denunciations that entails (though when Jimmy Carter narrowly beat Ford, no one thought of contesting the results).
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Three words The lengthiest denunciation of Tyndale’s translation came from More, the English humanist who was King Henry VIII’s leading political official.
    — Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
Definition of denunciation
Noun
  • Following Rourke’s denouncement of the GoFundMe effort, Hines told fans that if Rourke didn’t want the money, donors would be reimbursed.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
  • In coordination with former President Franklin Roosevelt’s public denouncement of discrimination of Black Americans, Plato, president of the Plato Construction Company, was contracted to build 88 houses on the site of Camp Taylor, the former military installation in southwest Louisville.
    — Steve Wiser, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Nov. 2025
Definition of denouncement

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Cite this Entry

“Soft-pedaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedaling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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