Downplay
verb
To make something seem less important, serious, or negative than it really is.
The company tried to downplay the effects of the accident on their reputation.
Often appears as...
- downplay the importance
- downplay the role
verb
To make something seem less important, serious, or negative than it really is.
The company tried to downplay the effects of the accident on their reputation.
Often appears as...
- downplay the importance
- downplay the role
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Understated Tone
Use 'downplay' for conveying a softer or less alarming tone about issues that might be significant.
They downplayed the financial losses to avoid panic among investors.
Pro Tip 2/3Potentially Negative
'Downplay' often hints the speaker might be intentionally misleading or hiding the full truth.
The politician downplayed his role in the scandal, which made the public suspicious.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjectivity Involved
The use of 'downplay' suggests a subjective perspective; what is downplayed may indeed be important.
She downplayed her achievements, but everyone knew she was essential to the project's success.
Pro Tip 1/3Understated Tone
Use 'downplay' for conveying a softer or less alarming tone about issues that might be significant.
They downplayed the financial losses to avoid panic among investors.
Pro Tip 2/3Potentially Negative
'Downplay' often hints the speaker might be intentionally misleading or hiding the full truth.
The politician downplayed his role in the scandal, which made the public suspicious.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjectivity Involved
The use of 'downplay' suggests a subjective perspective; what is downplayed may indeed be important.
She downplayed her achievements, but everyone knew she was essential to the project's success.
Pro Tip 1/3Understated Tone
Use 'downplay' for conveying a softer or less alarming tone about issues that might be significant.
They downplayed the financial losses to avoid panic among investors.
Pro Tip 2/3Potentially Negative
'Downplay' often hints the speaker might be intentionally misleading or hiding the full truth.
The politician downplayed his role in the scandal, which made the public suspicious.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjectivity Involved
The use of 'downplay' suggests a subjective perspective; what is downplayed may indeed be important.
She downplayed her achievements, but everyone knew she was essential to the project's success.
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Video examples
Reel Talk Ep. 7 - The...
gonna downplay it and a lot of other guys know yeah well wasn't that good I got one but I don't hear about the other ten that were caught there didn't know about so you got to go check it out do you uh do you is there a level of pride in being the one that found the spot is supposed to be in the one door it's there later you're already raised if you're showing up and to chase the bike
Video examples
What is imposter...
though it may be more prevalent and disproportionately affect the experiences of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. To call it a syndrome is to downplay how universal it is. It's not a disease or an abnormality, and it isn’t necessarily tied to depression, anxiety, or self-esteem.
Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
but it can certainly absorb all the text and maybe see increased patterns of meaning. Isn't there a chance that, as this broadens out, there could be a different kind of runaway effect? That's where I draw the line, honestly. And the chance exists -- I don't want to downplay it --
Video examples
Why we make bad...
the fact that newspapers sell when people see something in it they want to read. So there's a large role here played by the media, who want these things to be as spectacular as they possibly can. I mean, what would it take to persuade our culture to downplay it?
Video examples
3 lessons on decision-mak...
that even the worst strategies are making a profit. So when we're experiencing success, it's important to take a moment to really ask ourselves how much of it is truly down to us, because our egos love to downplay the luck factor when we're winning.
Video examples
My son was a Columbine...
I didn't know about any of this until months after his death. When I talk about his death as a suicide, I'm not trying to downplay the viciousness he showed at the end of his life. I'm trying to understand how his suicidal thinking led to murder.
Video examples
The security mirage -...
perception a lot of good experiments in this and you can see certain biases that come up again and again I'll give you four we tend to exaggerate spectacular and rare risks and downplay common risks so flying versus driving the unknown is
Video examples
Museums should honor the...
In the words of feminist theorist bell hooks, "Patriarchy has no gender." Women can support the system of patriarchy just as men can support the fight for gender equity. And we often downplay the importance of intersectionality.
Video examples
Bruce Schneier: The...
I'll give you four. We tend to exaggerate spectacular and rare risks and downplay common risks -- so, flying versus driving. The unknown is perceived to be riskier than the familiar.
Video examples
A Different Understanding...
Listen, I'm worried about our democracy. Nowadays, we have leaders who use division itself as a political tool. They downplay or even encourage, in some cases,
Video examples
Reel Talk Ep. 7 - The...
gonna downplay it and a lot of other guys know yeah well wasn't that good I got one but I don't hear about the other ten that were caught there didn't know about so you got to go check it out do you uh do you is there a level of pride in being the one that found the spot is supposed to be in the one door it's there later you're already raised if you're showing up and to chase the bike
Video examples
What is imposter...
though it may be more prevalent and disproportionately affect the experiences of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. To call it a syndrome is to downplay how universal it is. It's not a disease or an abnormality, and it isn’t necessarily tied to depression, anxiety, or self-esteem.
Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
but it can certainly absorb all the text and maybe see increased patterns of meaning. Isn't there a chance that, as this broadens out, there could be a different kind of runaway effect? That's where I draw the line, honestly. And the chance exists -- I don't want to downplay it --
Video examples
Why we make bad...
the fact that newspapers sell when people see something in it they want to read. So there's a large role here played by the media, who want these things to be as spectacular as they possibly can. I mean, what would it take to persuade our culture to downplay it?
Video examples
3 lessons on decision-mak...
that even the worst strategies are making a profit. So when we're experiencing success, it's important to take a moment to really ask ourselves how much of it is truly down to us, because our egos love to downplay the luck factor when we're winning.
Video examples
My son was a Columbine...
I didn't know about any of this until months after his death. When I talk about his death as a suicide, I'm not trying to downplay the viciousness he showed at the end of his life. I'm trying to understand how his suicidal thinking led to murder.
Video examples
The security mirage -...
perception a lot of good experiments in this and you can see certain biases that come up again and again I'll give you four we tend to exaggerate spectacular and rare risks and downplay common risks so flying versus driving the unknown is
Video examples
Museums should honor the...
In the words of feminist theorist bell hooks, "Patriarchy has no gender." Women can support the system of patriarchy just as men can support the fight for gender equity. And we often downplay the importance of intersectionality.
Video examples
Bruce Schneier: The...
I'll give you four. We tend to exaggerate spectacular and rare risks and downplay common risks -- so, flying versus driving. The unknown is perceived to be riskier than the familiar.
Video examples
A Different Understanding...
Listen, I'm worried about our democracy. Nowadays, we have leaders who use division itself as a political tool. They downplay or even encourage, in some cases,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Brandon Lee
American Actor
All I can tell you is that you cannot make choices in your own career, either career choices or choices when you're actually working as an actor, based on trying to downplay or live up to a comparison with somebody else. You just can't do that. You have to do your own work based on your own gut, your own instincts, and your own life.
Quote examples
Jessica Biel
American Actress
It's not my plan or whatever in my life to be a sex symbol. It never is. You are who you are, but you can't help what you look like. And when you do a film, like for me, it's just not about that. I would prefer to downplay it. I prefer to downplay the sex appeal.
Quote examples
Gerry Harvey
Australian Businessman
I'm probably not your typical business person in many ways. I don't wear a suit. I don't carry a briefcase. I don't wear a tie. I'm fairly casual. I haven't got a big office, and it's in a very ordinary part of town. I'd much prefer to downplay than impress.
Quote examples
Joseph Nye
American Educator
Leadership experts and the public alike extol the virtues of transformational leaders - those who set out bold objectives and take risks to change the world. We tend to downplay 'transactional' leaders, whose goals are more modest, as mere managers.
Quote examples
Lil Nas X
American Musician
I was pretty familiar with TikTok: I always thought its videos would be ironically hilarious. When I became a trending topic on there, it was a crazy moment for me. A lot of people will try to downplay it, but I saw it as something bigger.
Quote examples
Maya Moore
American Athlete
Our country comes from a centuries-long culture of dehumanizing black and brown bodies. So what role does racism play? A huge role. You can't downplay how deeply woven and embedded this is in our country.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
There's a lot of talk about the positive aspects of love. We as a society downplay the danger, the anxiety, and the disappointment. We romanticize romance.
Quote examples
Ha-Joon Chang
South Korean Economist
When we assess the impact of technological changes, we tend to downplay things that happened a while ago.
Quote examples
Gerhard Schroder
German Statesman
Naturally we are aware of the strength of our economy and naturally we don't want to downplay it.
Quote examples
Johny Hendricks
American Athlete
I'll downplay myself before I compliment myself.
Quote examples
Brandon Lee
American Actor
All I can tell you is that you cannot make choices in your own career, either career choices or choices when you're actually working as an actor, based on trying to downplay or live up to a comparison with somebody else. You just can't do that. You have to do your own work based on your own gut, your own instincts, and your own life.
Quote examples
Jessica Biel
American Actress
It's not my plan or whatever in my life to be a sex symbol. It never is. You are who you are, but you can't help what you look like. And when you do a film, like for me, it's just not about that. I would prefer to downplay it. I prefer to downplay the sex appeal.
Quote examples
Gerry Harvey
Australian Businessman
I'm probably not your typical business person in many ways. I don't wear a suit. I don't carry a briefcase. I don't wear a tie. I'm fairly casual. I haven't got a big office, and it's in a very ordinary part of town. I'd much prefer to downplay than impress.
Quote examples
Joseph Nye
American Educator
Leadership experts and the public alike extol the virtues of transformational leaders - those who set out bold objectives and take risks to change the world. We tend to downplay 'transactional' leaders, whose goals are more modest, as mere managers.
Quote examples
Lil Nas X
American Musician
I was pretty familiar with TikTok: I always thought its videos would be ironically hilarious. When I became a trending topic on there, it was a crazy moment for me. A lot of people will try to downplay it, but I saw it as something bigger.
Quote examples
Maya Moore
American Athlete
Our country comes from a centuries-long culture of dehumanizing black and brown bodies. So what role does racism play? A huge role. You can't downplay how deeply woven and embedded this is in our country.
Quote examples
Helen Fisher
American Scientist
There's a lot of talk about the positive aspects of love. We as a society downplay the danger, the anxiety, and the disappointment. We romanticize romance.
Quote examples
Ha-Joon Chang
South Korean Economist
When we assess the impact of technological changes, we tend to downplay things that happened a while ago.
Quote examples
Gerhard Schroder
German Statesman
Naturally we are aware of the strength of our economy and naturally we don't want to downplay it.
Quote examples
Johny Hendricks
American Athlete
I'll downplay myself before I compliment myself.
Example 1 of 10
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