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.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of understate
Another study for the American Psychological Association (APA) suggests the NCES numbers may understate the problem.
—
IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Today, romantasy’s staying power can’t be understated.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The moment is understated and wholly romantic — a meeting, if not a harmony, of hearts and minds.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
The renovation prioritized understated, high-quality materials like wood, wool, stone, and ceramics.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Today, romantasy’s staying power can’t be understated.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The moment is understated and wholly romantic — a meeting, if not a harmony, of hearts and minds.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
The renovation prioritized understated, high-quality materials like wood, wool, stone, and ceramics.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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Shea butter and hyaluronic acid join coconut and Kalahari melon oils to add a surge of strand-softening hydration, minimizing shrinkage in the process.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Traders establish firm processes on when to buy and when to sell—supported with limit orders—to minimize emotional decision-making.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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None of this is to underplay the value of this agreement to Paramount’s streaming business.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Despite lacking any legal education or experience, Routh dismissed his lawyers earlier this year and intends to defend himself at trial.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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When retail loses money, it’s often dismissed as inexperience.—
Anmol Verma,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs have since downplayed any lingering fallout from the tense TV moment.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Indian leaders have also downplayed the area’s earthquake risk while citing tsunamis as a reason why the Great Nicobarese indigenous people living in government camps cannot return to their ancestral villages.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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