Lexic.us

Definition of Downplay

1. Verb. Represent as less significant or important.

2. Verb. Understate the importance or quality of. "He played down his royal ancestry"

Definition of Downplay

1. Verb. (transitive) To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Downplay

1. to de-emphasize [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Downplay

downloaders downloading downloads downlooked downlying downlyings downmarket downmodulate downmodulated downmodulates

downmodulating downmost downpayment downpipe downpipes downplay (current term) downplayed downplayer downplayers downplaying

downplays downpour downpouring downpours downpress downpressed downpresses downpressing downpressor downpressors

Literary usage of Downplay

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"We suggest that you use whichever is more natural to you. downplay ... downplay is a relatively new verb, evidently going back no farther than 1954. ..."

2. Playing the "Communal Card": Communal Violence and Human Rights by Cynthia G. Brown, Farhad Karim (1995)
"This argument is a barely concealed effort to downplay the seriousness of ... 13 In addition, the Romanian government attempts to justify or downplay the ..."

3. Failing the Internally Displaced: The UNDP Displaced Persons Programs in by Binaifer Nowrojee (1997)
"UNDP officials also sought to downplay the political nature of the ethnic ... Additionally, there was an attempt to downplay the fact that there were ..."

4. The White House by Bernard L. Ungar, Gao (2003)
"Effort To downplay the Damage Found in the White House Complex. It appears that t GAO has undertaken a concerted effort in its report to downplay the damage ..."

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