| Main Entry: | downplay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | minimize |
Synonyms: |
attach little importance to, deemphasize, devalue, give little weight to, lessen, make light of, play down, soften, think nothing of, whitewash |
| Main Entry: | belittle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | detract |
Synonyms: |
bad-mouth, blister, criticize, cut down to size, cut to the quick, decry, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, diminish, discount, discredit, disparage, dispraise, downgrade, downplay, dump on, knock*, lower, minimize, pan, pooh pooh, poor mouth, put down, rip*, roast, run down, scoff at, scorch*, scorn, shoot down, shoot full of holes, slam*, smear, sneer at, sour grapes, squash, squelch, take a swipe at, take down, take down a peg, tear down, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, write off |
Antonyms: |
build up, exaggerate, praise, value |
| Main Entry: | extenuate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lessen, mitigate |
Synonyms: |
decrease, diminish, downplay, excuse, justify, make allowances, minimize, moderate, palliate, qualify, reduce, soften |
| Main Entry: | humiliate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | embarrass, put down |
Synonyms: |
abase, abash, base, bemean, blister, break, bring down, bring low, cast down, chagrin, chasten, confound, confuse, conquer, crush*, cut down to size, debase, degrade, demean, denigrate, deny, depress, discomfit, discountenance, disgrace, dishonor, downplay, humble, lower, make a fool of, make ashamed, mortify, pan, play down, put out of countenance, put to shame, rip*, run down, shame, shoot down, slam*, smear, snub, squash, subdue, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vanquish, wither |
Antonyms: |
build up, elevate, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | minimize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make smaller; underrate |
Synonyms: |
abbreviate, attenuate, belittle, cheapen, curtail, cut down to size, cut rate, decrease, decry, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, downplay*, dwarf*, knock down, knock*, lessen, make light of, make little of, miniaturize, pan, play down, pooh-pooh, poor-mouth, prune, put down, reduce, run down, shrink, underestimate, underplay |
| Notes: | reduce means to cut down on; minimize means to make small or insignificant or represent as less important |
Antonyms: |
enlarge, maximize, overestimate, overrate |
| Main Entry: | understate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | underestimate |
Synonyms: |
devalue, downplay, lessen, minimize, underrate, undervalue |
Antonyms: |
amplify, exaggerate, magnify, overestimate, overstate |
| Main Entry: | undervalue |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle |
Synonyms: |
depreciate, disparage, disregard, downplay, underrate |
Antonyms: |
praise, value |