SOFT PEDALS Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

soft-pedals 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of soft-pedal

as in downplays

to reduce in apparent importance she politely tries to soft-pedal her accomplishments when talking to less fortunate people

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soft pedals

2 of 2

noun

plural of soft pedal

as in quieters

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of soft-pedals

Verb

This loud-and-proud version of Sonny certainly feels progressive, but in a different way it soft-pedals Sonny’s complications. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026 Heringer believes the city soft-pedals crime, pointing to metrics that show improvement but not where pockets of violent crime persist. — Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-pedals

Verb

Analysts suggest this may reflect that as the Fed gradually downplays forward guidance, market sensitivity to Fed wording—as well as the Fed's overall influence over markets—could be waning.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
In her role as well as elsewhere, Kalle downplays the explicit homophobia that might have rendered this a more simplistic allegory, making Asla less a figure of interfering jealousy than a woman who simply doesn’t want to be abandoned yet again.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of downplays

Verb

In order to keep playing shows these past few years, Frampton has devoted himself to an intensive workout regime that minimizes the impact of IBM.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Spreading the drawdown across multiple stable caverns at all four storage sites minimizes sudden pressure drops and fluid turbulence.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimizes

Verb

After roll call and then assisting a man who sought to change his address, Judge Cho dismisses the other immigrants without speaking to them individually.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
The Heritage Foundation’s Yenor dismisses the notion that elite sports pose any threat to male fertility, observing to SciAm that, since 1990, Super Bowl–winning quarterbacks have had a higher than average number of children.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismisses

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soft-pedaling

soft-pedals

soft pedals

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“Soft-pedals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-pedals. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of soft-pedals

verb

noun

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