underreact
verb
un·der·re·act
ˌən-dər-rē-ˈakt 
underreacted; underreacting; underreacts
: to react with less than appropriate force or intensity
Examples of underreact in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Americans are loudly divided over the question of whether the nation is overreacting or underreacting to the pandemic.
—
Nicholas Frankovich, National Review, 26 Mar. 2020
Some people will underreact to warnings no matter what.
—Adam Sobel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2020
President Xi Jinping’s leadership is being tested, but so is the argument that a regime that at first underreacted now is overreacting.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 11 Feb. 2020
To put it bluntly, House Democrats are overreacting while Republicans are underreacting — pretending there’s nothing to criticize in Trump’s behavior.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 18 Dec. 2019
Meanwhile, recent studies show that people who underreact to stress are more likely to have impulsive behavior and substance addiction.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2019
Like Khaled, Wikström chronically underreacts to everything around him, though the effect is comic as opposed to bittersweet.
—Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, 9 Jan. 2018
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Nicholas Frankovich, National Review, 26 Mar. 2020
Some people will underreact to warnings no matter what.
—Adam Sobel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2020
President Xi Jinping’s leadership is being tested, but so is the argument that a regime that at first underreacted now is overreacting.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 11 Feb. 2020
To put it bluntly, House Democrats are overreacting while Republicans are underreacting — pretending there’s nothing to criticize in Trump’s behavior.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 18 Dec. 2019
Meanwhile, recent studies show that people who underreact to stress are more likely to have impulsive behavior and substance addiction.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2019
Like Khaled, Wikström chronically underreacts to everything around him, though the effect is comic as opposed to bittersweet.
—Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader, 9 Jan. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Underreact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underreact. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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