How to Use underplay in a Sentence

underplay

verb
Definition of underplaynext
Synonyms for underplaynext
  • But that still underplays the sheer energy of the thing.
    — al, 21 Feb. 2023
  • Heyman said that fact has been underplayed in the lead-up to WrestleMania 34.
    — Gene Guillot, NOLA.com, 30 Mar. 2018
  • Riggio, known to all as Len, is underplaying for effect, and the barest hint of a smile creeps onto his face.
    — Ted Loos, WSJ, 24 May 2018
  • In the name of national unity, the jokes often underplayed, and downplayed.
    — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2020
  • Heat do something again few expected in a way no one could underplay.
    — Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, 10 Oct. 2020
  • But that was underplaying how egregious the hit itself was.
    — Adi Joseph, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2017
  • As his out-of-work dad, Jim Belushi amps down his typical bluster, even underplaying at times.
    — Chris Kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, 10 May 2018
  • If overplayed, the proceedings can seem crude; if underplayed, dull.
    — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 29 Sep. 2019
  • Some candidates have underplayed climate change thus far, though that is starting to change.
    — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 10 June 2019
  • Eaton and Ezell don’t underplay the difficulty of cracking down on the mills or screening out fake degree holders.
    — Emma Whitford, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
  • And that may be underplaying it; people in tech have recently begun to talk about Alexa as being more than just part of a hit gadget.
    — Farhad Manjoo, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2018
  • Not to underplay the tortuous process soldiers endure to make it through the Army’s premier course on small-unit tactics, which tests leadership and grit.
    — Jon Blau, Indianapolis Star, 8 June 2020
  • Averages errors also tend to underplay the chance of a wide difference between the early polls and the end result.
    — Harry Enten, CNN, 7 Apr. 2018
  • Wang makes the day-to-day economics fully felt through well-chosen, underplayed details.
    — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 May 2017
  • Schools often underplay how much students may need to borrow.
    — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2022
  • Perhaps the most important (and yet underplayed) issue for the Sharks is goaltending.
    — Garrett Wroblewski/guest Columnist, The Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2019
  • There is no evidence that Swedes are underplaying the enormity of the disease rampaging across the globe.
    — New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020
  • Affleck underplays Lee's pain, letting the tiniest gestures indicate the wounded soul trying to emerge from a wall of grief.
    — Esquire, 25 Feb. 2017
  • Crudup underplays well in what’s mostly a thankless role, while Quinn — who also sings the song heard over the end credits — shines in conveying Grace’s own stricken journey.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2019
  • Backlogs underplay how many planes China will end up needing.
    — Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 31 Dec. 2020
  • Blevins’ fear of harassment cannot be ignored or underplayed, either.
    — Megan Farokhmanesh, The Verge, 14 Aug. 2018
  • As a result, the company’s problems were overlooked and underplayed.
    — Alan Murray, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2018
  • Nadal, like Federer, also came into the 2017 Australian underplayed due to a a left wrist injury that marred the second-half of his previous season.
    — Sandra Harwitt, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2018
  • Trump's rush to claim credit for the opening also underplays the contribution of other key players.
    — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 27 Apr. 2018
  • The Bray family, at least, is erring on the side of not underplaying the situation — or the need for everyone to contribute to solutions.
    — Jason Plautz, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2020
  • The groups also pointed to Japanese history books which underplay the country's war crimes.
    — James Griffiths, CNN, 11 May 2017
  • In addition, The Times found, public warnings were delayed or underplayed.
    — Joseph Serna, latimes.com, 18 Mar. 2018
  • To say both were impressive would be underplaying the occasion.
    — Mike Jensen, Philly.com, 19 Mar. 2018
  • In contrast to Bellucci, who underplays in dignified fashion, Collette works hard, very hard, to sell the concept and her character.
    — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2023
  • Apart from those exclaiming kids, the cast underplays the material, which keeps things comfortable, as one familiar sort of crisis follows the last.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underplay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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