Play up and Play down

Opposite meaning terms

Play up verb - To indicate the importance of by centering attention on.

Usage example: that TV news program plays up sensational stories just to get higher ratings

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Play down is an antonym for play up in emphasize topic.

Play down verb - Understate the importance or quality of.

Usage example: he played down his royal ancestry

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Play up is an antonym for play down in pretend as if something were unimportant topic.

Cite this Source

Play down and Play up. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/play_up/play_down

Play up & Play down. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/play_up/play_down>.

Play down or Play up. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/play_up/play_down.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "play up" and "play down" have occurred on timeline