Soft-pedal

//ˌsɒf(t)ˈpɛdl̩// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To reduce the volume of (music, a sound, etc.). transitive
  2. 2
    play down or obscure wordnet
  3. 3
    To reduce the force or impact of (something); to damp, to mute; especially, to minimize the less desirable aspects of (something); to play down, to tone down. figuratively, transitive

    "But when the first female also-ran at a convention merits such hoopla and hosannas, then it is harder for viewers to understand why the Democrats seem intent on soft-pedaling their presumptive nominee's arguably more remarkable breakthrough."

  4. 4
    To attempt to persuade someone about (something) through understatement, so that the listener accepts the good points as obvious. figuratively, transitive
  5. 5
    Chiefly followed by on: to act in a less assertive or forceful manner. figuratively, intransitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
allow forbafflechokecolorcushioncut short

Example

More examples

"But when the first female also-ran at a convention merits such hoopla and hosannas, then it is harder for viewers to understand why the Democrats seem intent on soft-pedaling their presumptive nominee's arguably more remarkable breakthrough."

Etymology

From soft pedal (“leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which, when pushed, dampens the strings and so softens the note played”, noun).

Related phrases

soft-pedalling

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.