underplays

verb

present tense third-person singular of underplay
1
as in understates

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in overplays

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underplays
  1. understates
  2. enacts
  3. downplays
Verb
  • There are reasons to believe this understates the problem, though.
    — Andrew E. Busch, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of top executives growing about 4% from 2024 to 2034, roughly the average for all occupations, but the headcount figure understates what is happening.
    — Sue Mysko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of understates
Verb
  • On just one unchanging set, an old-time concert hall designed by Rachel Hauck and made appropriately ominous, a tiny ensemble enacts a whole Greek tragedy of love and sacrifice that goes from the land of the living to the underworld and back.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • He gets framed by Foster’s kingpin and then enacts a revenge campaign.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 21 July 2026
Definition of enacts
Verb
  • Even as Sand downplays party politics, Democrats are putting faith in him to blaze a trail in the state after struggling electorally in recent cycles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 June 2026
  • That's likely why Mindelle downplays that part of the gig, and instead focuses on the comedy that keeps her on her toes.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Definition of downplays
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

underplaying
underplays
underprepared
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underplays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underplays. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All