Definition of understate
transitive verb
1 : to represent as less than is the case understate taxable income
2 : to state or present with restraint especially for effect
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Examples of understate in a Sentence
He understated his taxable income.
She's trying to understate the issue.
Recent Examples of understate from the Web
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In such company, the remaining two members, Black Dwarf and Supergiant, seemed to be significantly understated in their naming.
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To say that this was well-executed spin by the president and his team understates the genius of the dishonesty.
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In books where the words are understated or spare, the pictures are often overstated and elaborate.
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Standing on its own While The Godfather: Corleone's Empire is a thematic design, ties to its namesake are understated.
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During most of his tenure in Washington, Joe Kennedy has been slow and methodical, and often understated.
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While Hilton’s physical presence will be understated, the company’s marketing muscle and its 64 million honors program members will significantly broaden the reach of a property that already is widely known.
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That’ll mean more negative attention directed Duke’s way, but the Blue Devils are used to that, and the upside of having a senior leader can’t be understated.
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The biggest penalties were 90-day suspensions of operations for exhibitors that understated revenue by more than 1 million yuan ($146,000).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'understate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of understate
1824
UNDERSTATE Defined for English Language Learners
understate
playDefinition of understate for English Language Learners
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: to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
Learn More about understate
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See words that rhyme with understate Spanish Central: Translation of understate Nglish: Translation of understate for Spanish speakers
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