understate
/ŭn″dər-stāt′/
transitive verb
- To state with less completeness or truth than seems warranted by the facts.
- To express with restraint or lack of emphasis, especially ironically or for rhetorical effect.
- To state (a quantity, for example) that is too low. understate corporate financial worth.
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
5 days 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
5 days 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, 2023to 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
[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, 2022A 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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August 11, 2010Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › understate
UNDERSTATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
5 days 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 ...
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › trivializing
TRIVIALIZING definition | Cambridge English Dictionary
1 week ago - TRIVIALIZING meaning: 1. present participle of trivialize 2. to make something seem less important than it really is: . Learn more.
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.
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
5 days ago - 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.
WordUp App
wordupapp.co › home › dictionary › underplay
Underplay - 2 meanings, definition and examples | Zann App
November 18, 2024 - 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.
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 ...
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
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
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › word-of-the-day › denigrate-2024-11-18
Word of the Day: Denigrate | Merriam-Webster
July 14, 2016 - To denigrate someone is to criticize them heavily and often unfairly. Denigrate can also mean "to make something seem less important or valuable."
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › minimized
MINIMIZED | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
5 days ago - to make something seem less important or smaller than it really is: She accused politicians of minimizing the suffering of thousands of people. It's important to focus on your strengths and to minimize your weaknesses. Synonyms · downplay · understate · Opposites · emphasize ·
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!
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)
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
August 11, 2010 - 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
Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › denigrate
Denigrate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
The verb denigrate comes from the Latin word denigrare, which means “to blacken.” To sully or defame someone’s reputation, or to spread negative or hurtful information about a company or a situation, is to denigrate it.
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