deemphasizes
Makes less prominent
Deemphasizes means to reduce the importance or prominence of something.
Where emphasis draws attention, deemphasizing withdraws it: The new curriculum deemphasizes rote memorization in favor of critical thinking.
Organizations deemphasize programs they're quietly phasing out.
Speakers deemphasize points they'd rather audiences overlook.
Diminish perceived importance
- understateExpress with restraint
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
minimize · trivialize · gloss over · brush aside · tone down · mute · de-escalate · deflect
Treat as insignificant
- sidelineSecondary business pursuit
- overlookMiss or commanding view
- neglectFailure to provide care
- ignoreRefuse to notice
disregard · dismiss · relegate · shunt · push aside · omit · exclude · subordinate
downplay
Diminish perceived importance
- understateExpress with restraint
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- play downDiminish perceived significance
underplay · minimize · trivialize · gloss over · brush aside · tone down · mute · de-escalate · deflect · sidestep
marginalize
Treat as insignificant
ignore · disregard · dismiss · relegate · shunt · push aside · omit · exclude · subordinate · deprioritize
diminish
To make smaller
curtail · decrease · lower · abate · weaken · dilute · dampen · attenuate · scale back · pare down
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
demean · diminish · slight · undermine · discredit · devalue · degrade · detract · mock · ridicule
deemphasizesemphasizes
Gives special importance to
highlights · stresses · accentuates · underscores · spotlights