minimizar
verbCEFR B2
What does “minimizar” mean in English?
to minimise, to downplay
to minimise, to downplay (minimizar el impacto/los riesgos — reduce to the least possible extent; or represent as less serious)
Example sentences
El portavoz trató de minimizar el alcance del escándalo, asegurando que se trataba de un error administrativo menor.
The spokesperson tried to downplay the scale of the scandal, insisting it was just a minor administrative error.
El objetivo de la campaña es minimizar el impacto ambiental de la producción industrial mediante tecnología limpia.
The campaign's objective is to minimise the environmental impact of industrial production through clean technology.
No se puede minimizar la importancia de este fallo: sus consecuencias pueden afectar a toda la cadena de suministro.
The importance of this failure cannot be minimised: its consequences could affect the entire supply chain.
How to use it
Minimizar means 'to minimise' or 'to downplay'. Two senses at B2: (1) reduce to the smallest possible: minimizar los riesgos/el impacto (minimise risks/impact); (2) downplay/understate: minimizar las críticas, minimizar el problema. The second sense implies deliberate underrepresentation. Don't confuse with reducir (reduce — neutral, numerical) or subestimar (underestimate — form a lower-than-accurate assessment). Minimizar can carry a critical connotation when sense 2 is used.
Common mistake
Minimizar (minimise) vs. subestimar (underestimate). Minimizar is about reducing or downplaying (either genuinely or strategically). Subestimar is about having an inaccurate, too-low assessment: 'subestimaron la resistencia del material' (they underestimated the material's resistance — they were wrong in their calculation).