de-emphasize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "de-emphasize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word when you want to indicate that something should be given a lower level of importance or emphasis. For example: "The teacher decided to de-emphasize grammar rules in her English class in favor of more conversational activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This vision would de-emphasize Iraq's role in the Arab world.

The New York Times

American said it changed its training in 1999 to de-emphasize use of the rudder.

The New York Times

*New rule changes that de-emphasize calling fouls for incidental contact.

The New York Times - Sports

Santorum also seemed to be taking a strategic decision to de-emphasize fundraising.

The Guardian

The most important decision that its managers made was to de-emphasize technology stocks.

The New York Times

But Flint Hill was sold in 1990, and the new owners decided to de-emphasize basketball.

The New York Times - Magazine

His decision to de-emphasize religion at the ground zero events generated more discreet criticism.

The New York Times

"You know, it is hard to step back and de-emphasize it," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

De-emphasize college sports, people have said; that's the only way universities can reclaim their souls.

The New York Times

She refused to airbrush the bags from under models' eyes or de-emphasize their knobby knees.

The New York Times

After the violence of 2007, many Kenyans strove to de-emphasize the importance of ethnic identity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "de-emphasize" when you want to strategically reduce the perceived importance of a particular aspect, often to shift focus to something else. For example, "The company decided to "de-emphasize" short-term profits and focus on long-term growth."

Common error

While "de-emphasize" is a valid word, overuse can make your writing sound overly formal or bureaucratic. In casual conversations or informal writing, consider more direct alternatives like "downplay" or "minimize".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "de-emphasize" functions as a transitive verb, indicating an action performed on an object to reduce its significance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples show it modifying various nouns, such as "religion", "technology stocks", and "revenue growth".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

23%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "de-emphasize" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that means to reduce the importance or focus on something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for a variety of writing contexts, though slightly more formal alternatives exist for casual communication. "De-emphasize" appears frequently in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" sources. When employing this phrase, consider whether you intend to simply downplay something or shift emphasis to something else entirely. Top authoritative sources such as The New York Times and TechCrunch demonstrate its use in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce the emphasis on

A more literal and descriptive alternative.

lessen the importance of

Directly addresses the act of making something less important.

downplay

Focuses on making something seem less significant.

play down

Similar to downplay, suggesting a reduction in apparent importance.

minimize

Reduces something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

tone down

Reduces the intensity or forcefulness of something.

soft-pedal

Handles something delicately to reduce its impact.

mitigate

Lessens the severity or impact of something negative.

understate

Presents something as less significant than it is.

devalue

Reduces the worth or importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "de-emphasize" in a sentence?

You can use "de-emphasize" to indicate a reduction in importance or focus. For example, "The new strategy will "de-emphasize" individual contributions and highlight teamwork."

What is a good alternative to "de-emphasize"?

Alternatives to "de-emphasize" include "downplay", "minimize", or "play down", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "de-emphasize" something?

To "de-emphasize" something means to reduce its importance or prominence, often to draw attention to something else.

Is "de-emphasize" the same as ignore?

"De-emphasize" is not the same as ignore. To "de-emphasize" means to reduce the importance of something, while to ignore means to pay no attention to it at all. You might "de-emphasize" a minor detail while still acknowledging it, but ignoring it means pretending it doesn't exist.