downplay

[doun-pley] /ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ/

verb (used with object)

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.

Origin

1950-55; down¹ + play, from verb phrase play down

Examples from the web for downplay

Scientists downplay the role of global warming in the formation of icebergs.
We often downplay the importance of ceremony and ritual in university life.
That's what governments do best, they cover up or downplay disasters so that no one panics, and so they can get re-elected.
Of course the tourism industry is going to downplay the effects.
However, he argues it would be wrong to downplay the role of science in the process.
With it came efforts to downplay the dangers of shoddily reconstructing a compact city on such precarious ground.
Aboard his plane, however, the secretary tries to downplay the importance of the budget votes.
The have millions to spin their fairy tales and downplay the negatives.
And perhaps with our particular favorites there is a tendency to downplay their popularity.
It will be something that right-wing news outlets will either downplay or credit to the last president.

British Dictionary definitions for downplay

/ˈdaʊnˌpleɪ/

verb

(transitive) to play down; make little of

Word Origin and History for downplay

"de-emphasize," 1968, from down (adv.) + play (v.). Related: Downplayed; downplaying.

Slang definitions & phrases for downplay

verb

To deemphasize; minimize; soft-pedal: They're downplaying the role of bias in all this (1968+)