underplay
verb
un·der·play
ˌən-dər-ˈplā 
underplayed; underplaying; underplays
: to play a role with subdued force
1
: to act or present (a role, a scene, etc.) with restraint : play down
2
: to play a card lower than (a held high card)
Examples of underplay in a Sentence
Don't underplay the importance of exercise.
I thought she underplayed her character.
Recent Examples on the Web
The contributors underplay the overwhelming pressures of population growth and rapid urbanization in some parts of Latin America, as well as the growing aspirations of middle classes that current growth rates will not soon satisfy.
—
Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
This double character of Arte Povera—artistic innovation intertwined with political critique—is visible in the artworks, even if the curators underplay it.
—Wilson Tarbox, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Nevertheless, this should not be an excuse for underplaying risks or panic peddling.
—Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Oct. 2024
These systems, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, process supply-demand data but may underplay geopolitical risks.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underplay 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
This double character of Arte Povera—artistic innovation intertwined with political critique—is visible in the artworks, even if the curators underplay it.
—Wilson Tarbox, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Nevertheless, this should not be an excuse for underplaying risks or panic peddling.
—Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Oct. 2024
These systems, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, process supply-demand data but may underplay geopolitical risks.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underplay
Dictionary Entries Near underplay
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underplay. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underplay
verb
un·der·play
ˌən-dər-ˈplā
: to handle carefully
especially
: to play a role without much force
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share