soft-pedalled
Made less prominent
Soft-pedalled is the past tense of soft-pedal, meaning to downplay, minimize, or treat something with deliberate restraint.
The term comes from the piano's soft pedal, which mutes the sound.
If you soft-pedalled a controversial topic, you avoided emphasizing it or spoke about it in measured tones to reduce its impact.
The administration soft-pedalled the budget shortfall until after the election.
This spelling with double L is standard in British English; Americans typically write soft-pedaled.
Deliberately minimized in expression
- minimizedReduced to smallest extent
- played downMinimized the importance of
- deemphasizedMade less prominent
- underplayedRestrained in expression
toned down · muted · tempered · moderated · subdued · dampened · glossed over · brushed aside
Socially sensitive and careful
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
measured · careful · considerate · judicious · prudent · gentle · sensitive · restrained
understated
Deliberately minimized in expression
- minimizedReduced to smallest extent
- played downMinimized the importance of
- deemphasizedMade less prominent
underplayed · toned down · muted · tempered · moderated · subdued · dampened · glossed over · brushed aside · watered down
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
guarded · measured · careful · considerate · judicious · prudent · gentle · sensitive · restrained · cautious
soft-pedalledemphasized
Gave special importance to
highlighted · amplified · stressed · underscored · accentuated
soft-pedalledconfronted
Challenged or opposed directly
called out · laid bare · exposed · hammered home · drove home
soft, softer, softest, softly, softness, soften, softens, softened, softening