as in to minimize
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of understate
The pistachio one hit the hardest, its flavor perfectly understated.
—
Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2025
But those figures understate the full scale of Chinese imports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The positive impacts of this care can’t be understated.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 7 May 2025
Travelers can immerse themselves in very Hollywood, mini movie experience before boarding.
SAS Lounge in Copenhagen: Showers with speakers
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has a flagship lounge in Copenhagen Airport that is understated but thought out.
—Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2025
But those figures understate the full scale of Chinese imports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 May 2025
The positive impacts of this care can’t be understated.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 7 May 2025
Travelers can immerse themselves in very Hollywood, mini movie experience before boarding.
SAS Lounge in Copenhagen: Showers with speakers
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has a flagship lounge in Copenhagen Airport that is understated but thought out.
—Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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Effective targeting minimizes waste and builds consumer loyalty.—
Ray Lansigan,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Home cooks are often advised to chill their onions before cutting them to minimize crying.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 May 2025
Verb
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But his performance as the coldly confident Conway is still an excellent part of the world Scorsese constructs, and De Niro underplays to excellent effects.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
24 Mar. 2025
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By de-emphasizing the will of not just Poles but also Ukrainians, Hubris underplays the key factor that brought Putin to the point of annexing Crimea in 2014: Ukraine’s fervent hope for closer trade ties with the EU.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When Trump left the presidency in 2021, the court dismissed the case as moot, leaving the constitutional provision largely untested and unresolved.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2025
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The announcement comes after a jury candidate was dismissed on the first day of Combs' trial due to her connection to the publishing company.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Some chose to downplay their identities in certain settings to preserve influence or avoid pushback.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Longtime festival chief Thierry Frémaux downplayed the fracas by calling it an unfounded rumor.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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