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 Estévez thinks the first half of the season is irrelevant. Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026 That’s not to say that Suárez is doomed because of a couple of IL stints. Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026 That’s not to say Wennberg, Tyler Toffoli, Dmitry Orlov and Yaroslav Askarov are not incedibly valuable to the Sharks. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 That’s not to say that many of these drugs don’t help. Thomas Goetz, STAT, 8 Jan. 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 16 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!