What does "play down" mean?

To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.

What is a synonym for "play down"?

Common synonyms include: abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, attemper, background.

verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious. idiomatic, transitive
"The essay attempts to play down the role slavery had in the Civil War."
2
understate the importance or quality of wordnet

"The essay attempts to play down the role slavery had in the Civil War."