downplay

verb

Etymology: Synthetic form of the phrase play down. By surface analysis, down- + play.

1. To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.

   “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is no ordinary thriller. John Cassavetes, as usual, downplays the plot, opting for character and endless improvisation, but it does not entirely work in this setting.”

   “[Milo] Yiannopoulos, whose own career as a far-right pundit imploded in 2017 after remarks he had made downplaying the seriousness of pedophilia surfaced, claims he has more damaging videos to release about [Ali] Alexander and [Nick] Fuentes.”