as in to minimize
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is
He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.
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Recent Examples of understate
The renovation prioritized understated, high-quality materials like wood, wool, stone, and ceramics.
—
Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
To say that Servillo acts with a poker face would be to vastly understate the unsmiling minimalism of his performance.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Inspired by the refinement of London’s prestigious Knightsbridge neighborhood, the penthouse blends understated British cool with the vibrancy of Miami.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Achane’s importance to the Dolphins offense cannot be understated.
—Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
To say that Servillo acts with a poker face would be to vastly understate the unsmiling minimalism of his performance.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Inspired by the refinement of London’s prestigious Knightsbridge neighborhood, the penthouse blends understated British cool with the vibrancy of Miami.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Achane’s importance to the Dolphins offense cannot be understated.
—Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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In other words, while Europe continues to send arms supplies to the Ukrainian army, Europe is also careful not to go too far in order to minimize the prospects of a clash with Russia.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Another way to improve pollinator activity is to minimize pesticide use near your trees and keep your garden and lawn as organic as possible.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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None of this is to underplay the value of this agreement to Paramount’s streaming business.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The actor denied the allegations, and the case was later dismissed, per The Hollywood Reporter.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The president also appeared to downplay the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s jobs report that will be announced on Friday.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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His concerns were downplayed a few months ago by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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