How to Use understate in a Sentence

understate

verb

• She's trying to understate the issue.
• He understated his taxable income.
• The floors are great, and the fan is understated.
  — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 23 Feb. 2026
• This year, the cool-girl shoe vibe is sleek and understated.
  — Natalie Cantell, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
• The thick and doughy crust was one of our faves, but the sauce and cheese are understated.
  — cleveland, 10 Mar. 2020
• Your top could be flashy or understated in a black or neutral hue.
  — Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 23 July 2024
• And not a lot of heavy lifting, to understate the case more than somewhat.
  — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 2 July 2025
• But this year’s outfit may go down as her most understated yet.
  — Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE.com, 27 Aug. 2017
• The sour note is present but understated, and the texture is both springy and moist.
  — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
• The bottle is both understated and bold, just like the scent.
  — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 13 Sep. 2024
• The thin white lines are understated and clean, while still adding a playful touch.
  — Tasha Nicole Smith, ELLE, 26 July 2023
• The risks should not be understated.
  — Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
• Much like a pixie cut, the power of a bob cannot be understated.
  — Essence, 20 June 2025
• The result is a surface that feels rich and luxe yet still understated.
  — Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2023
• It cannot be understated just how strange the Webber shows were.
  — Isobel Lewis, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
• This is not to understate what happened to Karen Read.
  — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
• To say there has been backlash to the Chargers’ move is to understate it.
  — Mike Sielski, Philly.com, 29 Sep. 2017
• It is understated enough to be worn with anything at all, from jeans to a tux, and the prices aren’t too crazy.
  — Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
• In context, as hard as this might be to believe, her nails were understated.
  — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, 21 May 2018
• To say this happened fast is understating it.
  — Mark Minevich, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
• The poll may understate support for the most common forms of busing.
  — Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2019
• Public warnings failed to reach most of those in harm's way, or understated the risk.
  — Joseph Serna, latimes.com, 18 Mar. 2018
• If fruit designs aren't your thing, opt for a citrusy tone to keep things fresh and understated.
  — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 June 2026
• Michkov’s sophomore season has been a dud, and that may be understating it.
  — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
• That may understate the value of capital gains for the wealthy.
  — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
• As opposed to the more wild concepts, this one is understated.
  — Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2019
• The fashion this season seems a bit more toned down, understated.
  — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
• This silver touch adds a cool element to the pearl nail trend that cannot be understated.
  — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 14 June 2026
• Is your everyday pair understated enough to pair with any ‘ole top in your closet?
  — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
• That framing understates what the business does.
  — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026