Softpedal is a verb that means to downplay or make less of something. The antonyms for this word would be to emphasize, accentuate, highlight or stress. Instead of softpedaling a problem, one could choose to address it head on, magnify its importance, or make it the center of attention. The opposite of softpedal is to acknowledge and amplify an issue, rather than pretending it is less significant than it actually is. In different situations, people can decide to either softpedal an issue or stress it, depending on the occasion, environment or results desired.