1
as in to understate
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Recent Examples of underplay
But a new analysis this week from the Associated Press concludes the report was based on old data that underplayed the extent of the military’s extremism problem.
—
Will Carless, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024
Borisov artfully underplays the progression: He’s taken aback by her feral resistance, amused by her spirit, then really sees her.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
The commission notes the abject shortcomings of anti-money-laundering measures but badly underplay the enduring capacities of wealthy trafficking organizations to defy counternarcotics efforts.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
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
See all Example Sentences for underplay 
Will Carless, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024
Borisov artfully underplays the progression: He’s taken aback by her feral resistance, amused by her spirit, then really sees her.
—Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
The commission notes the abject shortcomings of anti-money-laundering measures but badly underplay the enduring capacities of wealthy trafficking organizations to defy counternarcotics efforts.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
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
See all Example Sentences for underplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplay
Verb
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With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
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The history of the moment can also not be understated, with Obama not only serving as the first Black president, but also entering the office at a time when the global financial system was on the verge of collapse.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Yet all this speaks to the risk the incoming Trump administration might overplay its hand on China.—
William Pesek,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
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Sidenote: Some of us will overplay conversations, maybe because of our attachment to control and drama.—
Hylke Faber,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Recent presidents have increasingly turned to memoranda in part to downplay their exercise of substantive unilateral action usually associated with executive orders.—
Meredith Conroy,
ABC News,
6 Feb. 2025
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Ryan actually downplayed his contribution to Harvey’s performance while echoing the praise Harvey sent his way.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Some states are already making moves President Biden’s administration largely blocked states from enacting work rules of their own and required 10 states to remove the requirement for Medicaid coverage.—
Amanda Seitz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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The Ivanhoe grant marked only the latest fallout in the Kansas City metro from the wave of spending cuts and reductions enacted since President Donald Trump took office.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation.—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
13 Dec. 2024
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The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In that sense, Mad Bills to Pay is a classic coming-of-age story about growing up and taking on responsiblity, about committing major actions and not just acting out.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
31 Jan. 2025
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The research highlights the need to rethink how young students who act out are treated by educators, given the dire consequences of defaulting to traditional modes of punishment.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Resist the temptation to dramatize the details out of proportion and look at it in the context of the bigger picture of your life.—
Sandy Thibault,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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One of the contract stipulations required MJ, and his estate by extension, to not dramatize the Chandlers in any capacity—including a potential biopic.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The edges of the cutout were left raw, mimicking the idea that the jacket had been unintentionally cut as opposed to being designed that way.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
14 Feb. 2025
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At the entrance to the gallery is a two-digital panel work modeled after Christie’s screens that appear at auction; on the screens play live valuations of various commodities with the design language and text mimicking that of the auction house.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near underplay
Cite this Entry
“Underplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplay. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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