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 this is a bad idea — far from it. Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026 This is not to say that Zhang and Liu are innocent. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2026 That’s not to say there isn’t a steel bar causing headaches for truck drivers. Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026 That’s not to say that TrumpRx never shows a good deal. John Wilkerson, STAT, 6 Feb. 2026 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 15 Feb. 2026.

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