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• v  represent as less significant or important
• v  understate the importance or quality of

• Public-health officials have been reluctant to downplay exercise because those who are more physically active are, overall, healthier.
• The Kansas school board recently endorsed new educational standards that downplay evolution, and new assaults on Darwin's brilliant and unsettling idea are sure to continue.
• When, at the most recent presidential news conference, Richard Nixon sought to downplay the gravity of his continuing crisis, he noted acidly that in the days following his .

• understate
• minimize
• minimise
• background
• play down

• overstate
• foreground
• play_up

News & Articles

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• Samsung analysts ask hard questions as S4 marketing charm wears off
  By Miyoung Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - Analysts fell under Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's marketing spell when they made what they now admit were hopelessly optimistic forecasts for its smartphone sales. Samsung's huge share of the high-end smartphone market also persuaded some analysts to downplay industry data pointing to a fast-saturating segment, a reality that is already eating into sales of Apple ...
  June 16, 2013 - Reuters via Yahoo! News
• Seth Rogen Dishes On Biggest 'This Is The End' Surprise Cameo
  The trailers for "This Is The End" don't really downplay the fact that a lot of celebrities show up on screen as skewed versions of themselves. But the trailers don't show you every celebrity that shows up to hang out with Seth, James, Jonah, Danny, and Jay. Co-writer/co-diector Seth Rogen stopped by MTV News' Josh [...]
  June 14, 2013 - MTV
• Friends help to honor Korean War veteran
  Elmo resident Bill Cauley tries to downplay his service time with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, claiming he didn’t fight in battle.
  June 13, 2013 - The Terrell Tribune

Quotes

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• Hillary Rodham Clinton in Forbes
  I know other campaigns have tried to downplay the significance of these two states,Clinton told reporters in South Carolina Friday. "I think that is not a good strategy for Democrats or any of us who cares about the outcome of this...
• Goose Gossage in San Diego Union Tribune
  These guys downplay the significance of steroids. Don't even go there. I don't buy it at all,Gossage added at a news conference. "These guys are getting better the older they get? Nah. The body doesn't work that way. And baseball is a...