Downplaying is a word that is used to describe a situation where someone tries to make something seem less important or serious than it actually is. There are many synonyms for downplaying, including understating, de-emphasizing, minimizing and playing down. These words are often used in situations where someone is trying to make a problem seem less significant than it really is, such as in a business context when a manager is trying to downplay a negative impact on the bottom line. Other synonyms for downplaying include belittling, trivializing and underplaying, all of which convey a sense of making something seem less important than it truly is. Whatever word you choose to use, downplaying is a common tactic used by people in many different situations.