downplay
To make something seem less important or significant than it is
Examples
In a meeting
“Don't downplay your contributions during the performance review.”
Over coffee
“She tends to downplay her achievements, but she's actually really talented.”
Why this word
minimize
Downplay means making seem less important deliberately, minimize is reducing to smallest amount
understate
Downplay is active diminishing of importance, understate is expressing with restraint
dismiss
Downplay reduces perceived significance, dismiss is rejecting or disregarding entirely
Usage tip
Use when someone is minimizing importance, often for modesty or to avoid concern
Etymology
English down (lower position) + play (to perform, act)
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.