downplay

Some members of an art scene, once it has become the subject of myth, make a habit of downplaying its reputed virtues, usually for reasons of mercy, modesty, or self-preservation.

Earlier this year, Paramount Pictures’ “Mean Girls” raised eyebrows for downplaying its musical roots in trailers and received lukewarm reviews from critics, though it met analysts’ box-office expectations.

The teenager’s story, indeed much of her life, will be familiar to the many families who have struggled to navigate the creaking mental health system, leaving them feeling their concerns have been downplayed or dismissed.

The company downplayed the drugs’ dangers and allegedly encouraged doctors to overprescribe them.

The second is to downplay the beneficial effects of a policy.