Word Finder
What's the word for deliberately making a problem seem less serious than it is?
The word you're looking for
To downplay something is to make it seem less important, serious, or bad than it really is. It fits your meaning well because the person does this on purpose.
Other words that fit
Use this when you mean someone tries to make a problem seem smaller or less serious, especially in formal writing.
Use this when someone describes a problem too gently, often in speech or writing that sounds careful.
Use this when someone hides bad facts to make a situation look better than it is.
Use this common phrasal verb in everyday English when the idea is to make something seem less serious.
Why this word
The best word here is usually downplay. It means to make a problem seem smaller, less serious, or less important on purpose. People also say minimize or play down, but those are a bit more general. Whitewash is stronger and often suggests hiding the truth completely. In many contexts, downplay is the most natural and common choice.
In context
- The company tried to downplay the safety issue.
- She downplayed the mistake in her report.
- He downplayed the conflict during the meeting.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is downplay formal or informal?
- It is common in both speech and writing, and it sounds natural in most contexts.
- What is the noun form of downplay?
- There is no very common noun form. People usually use phrases like "downplaying the issue."
- Is minimize the same as downplay?
- Very close, yes. Minimize is often more formal, while downplay is more natural in everyday English.