1
as in to understate
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Recent Examples of underplay
Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.
—
Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Gonski said that in addition to overstating certifiers’ responsibilities, Follow the Law’s messaging underplays the protections that already exist.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this controversial Claire Denis work, her longtime themes of desire and survival are crystallized in a dead-eyed probe into understanding our most base impulses and the tension underplaying unsteady erotic connections.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Just using endorsement badges to facilitate user choice could be underplaying its value, however.
—London Business School, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Gonski said that in addition to overstating certifiers’ responsibilities, Follow the Law’s messaging underplays the protections that already exist.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
In this controversial Claire Denis work, her longtime themes of desire and survival are crystallized in a dead-eyed probe into understanding our most base impulses and the tension underplaying unsteady erotic connections.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Just using endorsement badges to facilitate user choice could be underplaying its value, however.
—London Business School, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
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If anything, it's been understated in the public discussion.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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And don’t understate this: With Jimmy Butler disengaged or suspended from late December until his trade, Miami finished last in the league in free-throw attempts per 48 minutes late in close games.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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People who like to show their cards sometimes overplay them.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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When Colorado State overplayed the interior, Maryland was able to make the Rams pay for it in high-leverage situations.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Beginning in the 1960s, American food companies—some of which have been run by tobacco companies—engaged in nefarious corporate practices to create addictive products like sugary drinks, heavily market those products to the American public, and aggressively downplay their health harms.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
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Training rather than bravery In several interviews over the years, McCarthy has downplayed the notion that bravery had much to do with his actions.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Florida Sheriff's Association announced in February that all county jails had signed agreements in compliance with a state law enacted in 2022.—
Julia Ingram,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Republicans are hoping to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, which caps how much money the Treasury Department can owe to pay the country’s bills, by up to $5 trillion this year as part of a larger package to extend expiring tax cuts enacted through Trump’s signature 2017 tax law.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Dec. 2024
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One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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His days are spent either sitting sadly on Iris’ bed with literal hangdog eyes or acting out and destroying things in her apartment.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Twin Cities,
2 Apr. 2025
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But most small children eventually outgrow the impulse to act out.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unlike Molly, who's politely reticent and reluctant to speak up for herself, Nikki can't resist expressing her anger and sorrow—or, more precisely, dramatizing them for whatever audience of oncologists happens to be in range.—
Dory Jackson,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The network’s right to turn George and Tammy’s story into a TV show came from the First Amendment and from buying the rights to dramatize Georgette’s book.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For example, might the animals mimic the noise to ask for the object?—
Melissa Hobson,
Scientific American,
14 Apr. 2025
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This behavior mimics their wild ancestors, who would ambush prey from above or perch in trees to avoid danger.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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