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verharmlosen

to downplay, to trivialize

verb fer-HARM-lo-zen Rare
Communication Speech

Usage Note

Verharmlosen means to represent something dangerous or serious as harmless through language or framing. Die Risiken verharmlosen — to downplay the risks. Carries a clear critical connotation; commonly used in political and media criticism when a problem is minimized dishonestly.

Examples

"Es wäre falsch, die Folgen der Entscheidung zu verharmlosen."

Natural Translation

It would be wrong to trivialize the consequences of the decision.

Literal Translation

It would be wrong the consequences of the decision to trivialize.

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