Play up and Tone 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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Tone down is an antonym for play up.

Tone down verb - Make less strong or intense; soften.

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Play up is an antonym for tone down.

Cite this Source

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

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

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

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