trivialize
/trĭv′ē-ə-līz″/
transitive verb
- To make or cause to appear trivial. tried to trivialize their criticisms.
Downplay
Answer from vynsane on Stack ExchangeM-W: to make (something) seem smaller or less important
dictionary.com: to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc.: The press has downplayed the president's role in the negotiations.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › downplay
DOWNPLAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
2 weeks ago - to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is: The government has been trying to downplay the crisis. Synonym · understate · Opposites · foreground · overstate · SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases · Exaggerating ...
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Downplay
M-W: to make (something) seem smaller or less important
dictionary.com: to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its importance, value, strength, etc.: The press has downplayed the president's role in the negotiations.
2 of 16
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Sugarcoat - to make (something difficult or distasteful) appear more pleasant or acceptable.
You can't sugarcoat your alcoholism this time MonkeyZeus, I'm taking the kids and leaving you! Also, what parent in their right mind would name their child with a name as awful as yours?!
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › trivialize
TRIVIALIZE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
2 weeks ago - TRIVIALIZE definition: 1. to make something seem less important than it really is: 2. to make something seem less…. Learn more.
Is there a word for making something seem less important by bringing up something worse first?
Blunted, tempered, muted? More on reddit.com
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December 8, 2023[TOMT] [Word] Word that means "to make something seem like less of a problem than it is, or to reduce the gravitas of an issue or situation"
The word possibly starts with M or D, as it seems likely that it starts with the prefix mini- or deni- or dim- Other words similar to it include: diminutive, discount, trivialise, downplay, disparage, undersell, undermine, diminish, detract from, devalue, understate More on reddit.com
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December 20, 2022to make something seem less serious than it is (Any verbs?) | WordReference Forums
Hello everyone, I'm looking for a verb that fits in the situation below: Let's say a company is under intense criticism for manufacturing defective products. The company had admitted its fault but didn't actually disclose the root/real cause of its defects for fear of even harsher criticism... More on forum.wordreference.com
A single word for "make something less important"? - English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms - TOEIC & TOEFL English learning forum
hi. I want a single word for this: “make something less important” What verb can be used instead of this phrase? Example: To make something worse = compound something More on forum.english.best
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September 2, 2011Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › understate
UNDERSTATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
2 weeks ago - UNDERSTATE definition: 1. to describe something in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, bad, etc. than it…. Learn more.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/writing › is there a word for making something seem less important by bringing up something worse first?
r/writing on Reddit: Is there a word for making something seem less important by bringing up something worse first?
December 8, 2023 -
is there a verb for making something seem less important by bringing up something even worse beforehand?
eg:
Let's say Person A is worried about breaking bad news to Person B, so they tell Person C first, who starts crying upon finding out said news, and then Person B speaks with a broken voice after hearing that same news moments later, which Person A feels less bad about, because they were expecting a much worse reaction due to Person C's intense reaction from before.
Person C's more intense reaction *insert verb*s Person B's.
Right now I'm using the word 'softens' but I don't think that quite cuts it.
(I'm sorry for the very specific example)
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-thesaurus › trivialize
TRIVIALIZE Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus
October 30, 2020 - to make (something) seem less important or complex than it is · They continue to trivialize the world's environmental problems. Synonyms · undervalue · We must never undervalue freedom. underestimate · Never underestimate what you can learn ...
Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › understate
Understate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
One way to think about the verb understate is as the opposite of "exaggerate." If you want to make something seem smaller or less important than it really is, you're likely to understate it.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › trivializing
TRIVIALIZING definition | Cambridge English Dictionary
November 18, 2024 - TRIVIALIZING meaning: 1. present participle of trivialize 2. to make something seem less important than it really is: . Learn more.
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english › trivialize
trivialize verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
jump to other results to make something seem less important, serious, difficult, etc. than it really is It is important not to trivialize children's worries.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/tipofmytongue › [tomt] [word] word that means "to make something seem like less of a problem than it is, or to reduce the gravitas of an issue or situation"
r/tipofmytongue on Reddit: [TOMT] [Word] Word that means "to make something seem like less of a problem than it is, or to reduce the gravitas of an issue or situation"
December 20, 2022 -
As explained, it's a word that refers to making something seem smaller than it is.
Example sentence:
"I find the anodyne tone of his missive _ the torment that the victims were put through."
(Do check out the compulsory comment for some words that are similar to it, but aren't it)
WordUp App
wordupapp.co › home › dictionary › underplay
Underplay - 2 meanings, definition and examples | Zann App
November 28, 2025 - To make something seem less important or less serious than it really is. underplay also means: In drama or music, to perform in a less dramatic way than would be expected.. Learn pronunciation, examples, and usage with WordUp.
Laxidictionary
laxidictionary.com › thesaurus › english › to-make-something-seem-less-important-or-special
To make something seem less important or special | British Thesaurus - Laxi Dictionary
November 1, 2023 - To make something seem less important or special in British Thesaurus: 1.to try to make a problem or difficult situation seem less important than it is 2.to make something seem much less important than it really is
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › learner-english › trivialize
TRIVIALIZE definition | Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary
April 6, 2015 - TRIVIALIZE meaning: to make something seem less important or serious than it really is: . Learn more.
WordReference
forum.wordreference.com › english only › english only
to make something seem less serious than it is (Any verbs?) | WordReference Forums
April 18, 2011 - The choice between it and "downplay" is close one. I'd say that if the company just tried to make it appear a bit less serious than it was, while still conceding that there was a problem, "downplay" is better; if they tried to make it appear ...
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › word-of-the-day › denigrate-2024-11-18
Word of the Day: Denigrate | Merriam-Webster
November 18, 2024 - To denigrate someone is to criticize them heavily and often unfairly. Denigrate can also mean "to make something seem less important or valuable."
Dan Word
danword.com › crossword › Make_something_seem_less_important_than_it_is_tgyi
Make (something) seem less important than it is - crossword puzzle clues & answers - Dan Word
Make (something) seem less important than it is - crossword puzzle clues and possible answers. Dan Word - let me solve it for you!
Crossword Solver
crosswordsolver.com › clue › MAKE-SOMETHING-SEEM-LESS-IMPORTANT
Make something seem less important Crossword Clue: 1 Answer with 10 Letters
Make something seem less important with 10 letters 1 Answer tidy up, tidy, straighten out, neaten, clean up, square away, straighten
English Vocabulary Forum
forum.english.best › english as a second language › english vocabulary, grammar and idioms
A single word for "make something less important"? - English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms - TOEIC & TOEFL English learning forum
September 2, 2011 - hi. I want a single word for this: “make something less important” What verb can be used instead of this phrase? Example: To make something worse = compound something
Quora
quora.com › What-is-a-word-for-making-something-seem-not-as-bad-as-it-actually-is
What is a word for making something seem not as bad as it actually is? - Quora
Downplay — present something as less important, serious, or severe. Minimize — reduce the perceived significance or gravity. Sugarcoat — make unpleasant facts more palatable by softening or concealing the harshness. Play down — British variant of downplay; to understate. Soft-pedal — deliberately reduce emphasis or intensity. Understate — state or present with less force or emphasis than warranted.
Crossword Solver
crosswordsolver.com › clue › MAKE-SOMETHING-APPEAR-LESS-IMPORTANT-THAN-IT-REALLY-IS
Make something appear less important than it really is Crossword Clue: 1 Answer with 8 Letters
Make something appear less important than it really is with 8 letters 1 Answer tidy up, tidy, straighten out, neaten, clean up, square away, straighten