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
That’s not to say that the process of creating a registry has become any less overwhelming.
—
Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
That’s not to say everyone ignored the opportunity to make a buck in one of the world’s poorest countries.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Which is not to say that Bernhard’s protagonist had it wrong but merely that mediocrity, in the realm of literature, is preferable to disregard or annihilation.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
What’s even worse is that Salley thinks that Craig is telling Charley not to say anything to her and that Craig is so calculated.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not to say
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Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
That’s not to say everyone ignored the opportunity to make a buck in one of the world’s poorest countries.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Which is not to say that Bernhard’s protagonist had it wrong but merely that mediocrity, in the realm of literature, is preferable to disregard or annihilation.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
What’s even worse is that Salley thinks that Craig is telling Charley not to say anything to her and that Craig is so calculated.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 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 1 Mar. 2026.
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