undersell

verb

un·​der·​sell ˌən-dər-ˈsel 

undersold ˌən-dər-ˈsōld  ; underselling

transitive verb

1

: to sell articles cheaper than

undersell a competitor

we will not be undersold

2

: to sell cheaper than

imported cars that undersell domestic ones

3

: to present or speak of (something or someone) as having a lower value or less importance than is actual or deserved : underrate

advising job applicants not to undersell themselves

Don't undersell the qualities of a worthy trail horse …

—Lucie Stigler

Dylan's musicianship is often undersold by critics …

—Amanda Petrusich

Examples of undersell in a Sentence

They promised to undersell their competitors.

We will not be undersold.

imported cars that undersell domestic models

Recent Examples on the Web

The new book suggests that human beings have always been declinist, underselling the riches of the present and romanticizing what earlier generations merely made do with. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

In fact, that is underselling it. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025

Reverse catfishing refers to deliberately underselling yourself online in the hope of finding something more real. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Nunemaker said the search committee tried to give Sajet a realistic picture of the museum, the board and Milwaukee as a place to live without sugarcoating or underselling anything. —Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undersell

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Kids Definition

undersell

verb

un·​der·​sell ˌən-dər-ˈsel 

undersold -ˈsōld  ; underselling

: to sell articles cheaper than

undersell a competitor