de-emphasise
Make less prominent
To de-emphasise is to reduce the importance or prominence of something, the opposite of emphasise.
A speaker might de-emphasise controversial points to avoid conflict.
A design might de-emphasise certain elements by making them smaller or less colorful.
British spelling of de-emphasize.
Minimize emphasis or expression
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
- understateExpress with restraint
trivialize · belittle · diminish · sideline · background · devalue · depreciate · discount
underplay
Minimize emphasis or expression
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
understate · trivialize · belittle · diminish · sideline · background · devalue · depreciate · discount · neglect
lessen
Reduce in degree
temper · mitigate · curtail · scale back · tone down · mute · dampen · subdue · dial back · soften
understated
Deliberately minimized in expression
soft · delicate · restrained · subdued · implicit · low-key · discreet · tactful · modest · quiet
de-emphasiseemphasise
Highlight for importance
emphasize · highlight · stress · accentuate · underscore
emphasise, emphasize, de-emphasize, emphasis, emphatic, emphatically, unemphatic, overemphasize, overemphasise