soft-pedaled
Minimized the impact
Soft-pedaled means downplayed or made less emphatic.
From the piano's soft pedal, which mutes the sound, the figurative meaning dominates: The company soft-pedaled the safety concerns in its announcement.
To soft-pedal something is to treat it gently, avoid drawing attention to it, or present it in understated terms.
Also spelled soft-pedalled.
Made less loud
- hushedReduced to silence
- muffledMade quieter, less distinct
- subduedReduced in intensity
- dampenedMade moist or subdued
toned down · silenced · suppressed · stifled · smothered · dulled · softened · faint
Tactful and sensitive
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- gentleSoft and kind
- considerateMindful of others' needs
sensitive · measured · careful · cautious · polite · respectful · courteous · gracious
Reduce to smallest extent
- understateExpress with restraint
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- deemphasizeReduce perceived significance
- gloss overMinimize or conceal flaws
diminish · underplay · tone down · whitewash · sugarcoat · water down · temper · moderate
quieted
Made less loud
dampened · toned down · silenced · suppressed · stifled · smothered · dulled · softened · faint · faded
diplomatic
Tactful and sensitive
considerate · sensitive · measured · careful · cautious · polite · respectful · courteous · gracious · thoughtful
minimize
Reduce to smallest extent
- understateExpress with restraint
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- deemphasizeReduce perceived significance
gloss over · diminish · underplay · tone down · whitewash · sugarcoat · water down · temper · moderate · mitigate
- sugarcoatedsugarcoated, candy-coated, sweetened, honeyed, sugary
- downplaying tacticsdownplayed, minimized, trivialized, understated, belittled
soft-pedaledhighlighted
Marked for emphasis
trumpeted · emphasized · played up · spotlighted · accentuated
soft-pedaledhammered home
Forcefully reinforced a point
drove home · pressed · proclaimed · pushed · laid into