PLAYED DOWN Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

played down

verb

past tense of play down

as in dismissed

to express scornfully one's low opinion of out of sheer envy, she would always play down her sister's accomplishments

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in minimized

to reduce in apparent importance if you play down your part in the project, you won't get the credit you deserve

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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 played down The industry is one of the key drivers of Indian economic growth and middle-class expansion, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played down job displacement concerns. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Iranian state television earlier played down the outcome of the Iran-Oman discussions, citing a person familiar with the matter as saying an agreement between Tehran and Muscat would not necessarily mean the strait would open immediately. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 Merseyside sources have played down suggestions of a formal bid for the Canada international, but talks have taken place between the two clubs. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026 Longer term, there has been speculation — which Lewis played down in February — that Diageo’s 34% stake in the champagne and cognac business Moët Hennessy may be sold to majority shareholder LVMH. — Ian King, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 Yamal has always played down the comparison, focusing instead on being the best version of himself. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 In Moscow, the Kremlin played down the importance of Fedorov's dismissal — despite his role in shaping Ukraine's attack drone program against the Russian interior. — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 16 July 2026 Comcast executives on the analyst call played down the notion that the two companies were being positioned for another deal. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Advertisement New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, himself a long-suffering Knicks fan who attended a playoff game on May 21, has played down the chances of Gotham City-style meltdown. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 27 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for played down

Verb

But the fate of Mangione’s state case, set to go to trial next month, now hangs in the balance as his attorneys seek to get second-degree murder and weapons charges dismissed over double jeopardy protections.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
All six defendants initially faced torture charges that were dismissed.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissed

Verb

The buffers that have minimized the disruption so far will hold for only so long and must be reinforced if the world is to endure future shocks.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Without getting into specifics, Robins minimized the potential impact of the CFTC’s rules on DraftKings’ market making business in an interview with Sportico on Friday morning.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimized

Verb

The term refers to when tobacco companies in the 1990s were forced to pay billions of dollars for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products, and subsequently saw their power and influence dramatically diminished.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
But the likelihood of finding more survivors has diminished sharply since the first 72 hours after the earthquake.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminished

Verb

The Ravens, however, have consistently supported Loop and downplayed the need to bring in another kicker.

— Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Phuel founder and long-time CEO Garret Rock downplayed his current involvement in the company this week and declined to provide information on its current leadership.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026