not to say

idiom

used to introduce a more forceful or critical way of describing someone or something
He was impolite, not to say downright rude!

Examples of not to say in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That’s not to say that the concert felt hollow. Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2025 That’s not to say that Movistar Plus+ is in a bad place. John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025 That’s not to say internal development is never worthwhile. Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 This is not to say that wildlife is suited to handle the climate crisis—mountains of evidence clearly show otherwise. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for not to say

Cite this Entry

“Not to say.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20to%20say. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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