underestimate

verb

un·der·es·ti·mate | \ ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt

underestimated; underestimating; underestimates

Definition of underestimate

transitive verb

1 : to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number

2 : to place too low a value on : underrate

Other Words from underestimate Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about underestimate

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Other Words from underestimate

underestimate \ ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-mət

\ noun

underestimation \ ˌən-dər-ˌe-stə-ˈmā-shən

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for underestimate

Synonyms

underrate, undervalue

Antonyms

overestimate, overrate, overvalue

Examples of underestimate in a Sentence

The city underestimated the cost of the new building. The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000. Never underestimate the importance of a good education. Her talent has always been underestimated.

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, Americans overestimated the benefits of opioids and underestimated the risks. — Bob Moos, Dallas News, "Medicare grows stricter on opioids," 7 June 2019 The environmental impacts of these sales are not to be underestimated — one-quarter of all carbon emissions in the United States come from fossil fuels drilled on public lands. — Maia Wikler, Teen Vogue, "Activists Protest Bureau of Land Management Leasing That Allow Oil and Gas Drilling on Public Lands," 15 Apr. 2019 My new climate also taught me to never underestimate the intensity of the sun. — Sara King-abadi, SELF, "What I Wish I Knew About Skin Care Before Moving to the Mountains," 12 Apr. 2019 Kim Kardashian West is used to being underestimated. — Vogue, "Kim Kardashian West Vogue Cover, Photographed by Mikael Jansson," 10 Apr. 2019 But while reality may be more complicated than Bollywood embellishment, Pakistan would be foolish to underestimate India’s growing expectations for its military and intelligence agencies. — Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, "Pakistan-Based Jihadists Kill 40, and Indians Demand a Response," 21 Feb. 2019 Sometimes in the moment, its easy to underestimate the impact of seemingly small details. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Who is 'Bachelor' Contestant Cassie Randolph?," 16 Jan. 2019 Aside from a drop in performance — though my colleague Dieter Bohn says not to underestimate it — not much else is lost in the change in size. — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, "How to pick the Microsoft Surface that’s right for you," 2 Aug. 2018 The win is not to be underestimated: Mexico, sometimes a World Cup underachiever, has the blend of ability and belief to rise to the top of one of the World Cup’s hardest groups. — Editors, USA TODAY, "Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'underestimate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.