Synonyms of play down
23 similar words · 11 opposite words
Another word for play down is de-emphasize. Other synonyms of play down are underestimate, downplay, belittle, understate and trivialize. The opposite of play down is three-sheet.
Synonyms and similar words for play down
verbTo make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
- de-emphasizeTo remove or reduce the emphasis from something; to make something less important; to play down.
- downplayTo de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.
- bagatellizeTo regard as a bagatelle; to play down, trivialize or belittle.
- banalizeTo make banal or commonplace.
- belittleTo disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of someone or something.
- cut down
- denigrateTo treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage.
- degrade
- deprecateTo belittle, depreciate.
- derogateTo detract from (something); to disparage, belittle.
- disparageTo dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak...
- dispraiseTo notice with disapprobation or some degree of censure; to disparage, to criticize.
- lilliputianizeTo make small or petty.
- make little ofTo belittle.
- make nothing ofTo consider as trifling or unimportant.
- minimizeTo treat as trivial or insignificant; to trivialize.
- superficializeTo render superficial; to trivialize.
- trivializeTo make something appear trivial.
- underestimateTo perceive or expect (someone or something) to be less significant or difficult than it actually is.
- underplayTo make something seem less important than it really is.
- understateTo state (something) with less completeness than needed; to minimise or downplay.
- set at nought archaicTo treat as unimportant or worthless; to despise, disregard, defy, unheed.
- vilipend dated, formalTo treat (something) as inconsequential or worthless; to despise, to look down on.
Opposite of play down
verbTo make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
- play upTo make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely, or obvious; to showcase or highlight.
- big up slang
- exaggerateTo overstate, to describe more than the fact.
- overdo
- overemphasizeTo place too much emphasis on; to overstate the importance of.
- overstate
- stretch figuratively
- three-sheetTo exaggerate, hype up, or show off.
- cut it fat UK, obsoleteTo exaggerate or show off.
- hyperbolize archaic
- overcharge dated
Meaning of play down
- verb To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
play down in other languages
Questions about synonyms of play down
- What is another word for play down?
- Play down has 23 synonyms on Word.ws, such as de-emphasize, underestimate, downplay, belittle, understate, trivialize, denigrate and disparage.
- What is the opposite of play down?
- The opposite of play down is three-sheet. Other antonyms of play down are exaggerate and overemphasize.
- What does play down mean?
- Play down means to make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: play down (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of play down.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/play_down. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.