French Conversation · Level 79
60 words
French word
dédramatiser
Pronunciation
IPA/dedʁamatize/
Meaning
- verbdownplay
Example
Il faut dédramatiser cette histoire.
This story needs to be downplayed.
More examples
Essayons de dédramatiser la situation.
Let's try to play down the situation.
Core concept
A tense scene settling into an ordinary, manageable event.
Common phrases
dédramatiser la situation
play down the situation
dédramatiser un problème
play down a problem
Similar words
relativiser: To put an event in perspective and make it seem less serious.
minimiser: To describe an event as less significant than it might otherwise appear.
modérer: To restrain the force of an expression or manner and make it milder.
Definition in French
Rendre moins grave ou moins dramatique un événement, une parole ou une situation afin d'en réduire l'inquiétude.
Word origin
The verb dédramatiser adds the reversive prefix dé- to dramatiser, which derives from drame with the verb-forming suffix -iser.
Usage tips
- Dédramatiser usually reduces alarm without denying that an underlying problem exists, so it differs from simply ignoring a problem.
Other meanings
- tone downverb
Opposites
- dramatiserdramatizeverb
- exagérerexaggerateverb
Related words
- dédramatisationplaying downnoun
- dédramatisantdownplayingadjective
- dédramatiséplayed downadjective