What's the difference between distain and downplay?

Distain


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used chiefly in poetry.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Much has been made of millennials and our distain for the big, in favor of the small, the organic, the handcrafted, the twee, the old-time-y.

Downplay


Definition:

Example Sentences:

  • (1) In American football, however, more than 4,500 former NFL players sued their league for downplaying the dangers of concussion, and last year there was an out-of-court settlement for around £500m.
  • (2) The Kuwaiti admitted openly lobbying for Bach, a breach of IOC rules, but both downplayed his influence following Bach's victory.
  • (3) Facebook Twitter Pinterest China dismisses Trump call with Taiwan as ‘small trick’ However, Beijing’s public response has so far been measured, with the foreign ministry lodging a “solemn representation” with Washington and the foreign minister, Wang Yi, downplaying the development as “a petty move” by Taiwan.
  • (4) Now that the State Department has just released a final environmental impact report on Keystone XL, which appears to downplay the threat, and greatly increases the odds that the Obama administration will approve the project, I feel I must weigh in once again.
  • (5) Both Egypt and Russia have downplayed suggestions that the crash is linked to terrorism and dismissed claims of responsibility by an Islamist group in Sinai.
  • (6) Several other roles have been mooted for Brooks, though the company downplayed suggestions that she would run Storyful, a Dublin-based social media news agency started by the former RTÉ current affairs presenter Mark Little, or manage the Sun’s digital operations.
  • (7) The Australian prime minister made the remark as he sought to downplay any suggestion of disagreement with Barack Obama over climate change.
  • (8) The Leave campaign has also sought to downplay the risks of a British exit by following the example of Norway, which has access to the EU’s single market as a member of the European Economic Area.
  • (9) Republicans have for months been claiming the White House was engaged in a cover-up, downplaying the role of an al-Qaida inspired group in the attack and suggesting instead the attack was mainly the result of a demonstration by a mob against an American-produced anti-Islam film.
  • (10) Spence advocates the gathering of brute data while denying or downplaying the epistemological value of theorizing and of interpretive understandings.
  • (11) But in this case Trump’s campaign did not attempt to downplay the remarks as humorous.
  • (12) Speaking to the media after the summit, Abbott downplayed the importance of the fund.
  • (13) This “hard Brexit” is favoured by some Conservatives although on Monday ratings agency Moody’s downplayed the impact , saying that while there would be a loss of business the impact would be manageable.
  • (14) But Barack Obama is an example of someone who deliberately downplayed and thus, transcended his race.
  • (15) The spokesperson confirmed that the ministry had “indirectly owned” the Chinese firm in the joint venture but downplayed its involvement and said Chen had never worked for the ministry.
  • (16) Without wishing to downplay their hard work, I know pupils who have achieved an A* with what I would consider to be only the most rudimentary ability in French and certainly not a true A2-level.
  • (17) The US president's comments appeared to be an attempt to downplay speculation that Israel was preparing to attack Iran following a report last week that the US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, believes an Israeli strike could happen this spring.
  • (18) The former head of Derbyshire CID told the Guardian that Clarke's plan to increase the discounted tariff for rape when assailants admitted guilt to 50%, alongside crimes like robbery and burglary, downplayed the severity of the offence, in turn inviting officers to investigate it less thoroughly.
  • (19) Israelis were deeply insulted by foreign media organisations which seemed to be downplaying the kidnapping, or, by describing the teenagers as "three settlers", to be putting them into a political context.
  • (20) This right and duty, which all editors in the world have, should not be undermined by algorithms encoded in your office in California.” “Editors cannot live with you, Mark, as a master editor.” Speaking in Rome last month, Zuckerberg addressed the question of Facebook’s role in the news media and appeared to downplay his editorial responsibilities.