de-emphasis
Making less important
De-emphasis is the reduction of prominence or importance given to something.
In audio engineering, de-emphasis refers to reducing certain frequencies during playback to counteract emphasis applied during recording.
More broadly, it describes any deliberate downplaying: The campaign's de-emphasis of social issues surprised observers.
The verb is de-emphasize.
Reduce intensity or volume
- muteWithout voice or sound
- muffleDeaden or suppress sound
- subdueBring under control
- temperState of mind
moderate · soften · dampen · blunt · dull · gentle · ease · cushion
Diminish perceived importance
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- trivializeMake light of
lessen · play down · underestimate · depreciate · discount · detract · marginalize · sideline
Intentional diminishment for effect
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- tactSensitivity in speech
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
finesse · restraint · modesty · reserve · discretion · litotes · meiosis · underplay
One's formative experiences
- recedeMove back from
- secondaryLesser in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- mutedMade quieter or softer
neutral · backdrop · peripheral · supporting · contrast · hierarchy · balance · proportion
tone down
Reduce intensity or volume
temper · moderate · soften · dampen · blunt · dull · gentle · ease · cushion · buffer
downplay
Diminish perceived importance
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
trivialize · lessen · play down · underestimate · depreciate · discount · detract · marginalize · sideline · subordinate
understatement
Intentional diminishment for effect
delicacy · finesse · restraint · modesty · reserve · discretion · litotes · meiosis · underplay · self-deprecation
background
One's formative experiences
- recedeMove back from
- secondaryLesser in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
muted · neutral · backdrop · peripheral · supporting · contrast · hierarchy · balance · proportion · fade
- Signal Transmissiontransmission line, attenuation, crosstalk, signal distortion, jitter
- FM radioFM radio, FM tuner, FM receiver, FM band, FM stations
de-emphasisemphasis
Stress given to something
stress · accentuation · highlighting · prioritization · foregrounding
de-emphasisamplification
Increase in intensity
intensification · exaggeration · magnification · overstatement · dramatization
emphasis, emphasize, emphatic, emphasized, emphasizing, emphasizes, emphatically, overemphasize, overemphasis