downplaying Definition
to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is.
Using downplaying: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "downplaying" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company is downplaying the environmental impact of the oil spill.
Example
He tried to downplay his role in the project's success.
Example
She accused him of downplaying the seriousness of the issue.
downplaying Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for downplaying
- minimize
- understate
- play down
Antonyms for downplaying
Phrases with downplaying
Example
He downplayed the incident as a minor misunderstanding.
to make something seem less important than it really is
Example
The government is accused of downplaying the significance of the economic crisis.
downplay one's achievements/accomplishments
to make one's achievements or accomplishments seem less important than they really are
Example
She tends to downplay her achievements and rarely talks about them.
Summary: downplaying in Brief
'Downplaying' [doun-pley-ing] is the act of making something seem less important or less bad than it really is. It can be used to describe situations where someone tries to minimize their own role or responsibility, or when an organization tries to reduce the negative impact of an event. Examples include 'The company is downplaying the environmental impact of the oil spill' and 'She accused him of downplaying the seriousness of the issue.'