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 researchers said their findings probably understate today’s risk, because human contributions to changes in coastal extremes have only increased since then.
—
Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Meanwhile, starter Noah Schulltz, who is out with right knee patellar tendinitis, began a rehab stint Tuesday at Charlotte, along with catcher Kyle Teel, whose importance can’t be understated.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
From loud to understated Abercrombie is testing its footwear expansion at its new store in Soho, the heart of New York City's fashion district.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 17 June 2026
Even so, those numbers drastically understate the actual emissions observed by plane and satellite.
—Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for understate
Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Meanwhile, starter Noah Schulltz, who is out with right knee patellar tendinitis, began a rehab stint Tuesday at Charlotte, along with catcher Kyle Teel, whose importance can’t be understated.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
From loud to understated Abercrombie is testing its footwear expansion at its new store in Soho, the heart of New York City's fashion district.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 17 June 2026
Even so, those numbers drastically understate the actual emissions observed by plane and satellite.
—Alex Cuadros, ProPublica, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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Every group-stage match will involve a border crossing into the US, but, according to a spokesperson for the Iranian Football Federation, players will only enter the US one day before the first match and two days before each of the next two matches to minimize their time in the country.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Wear clothing that minimizes skin exposure to ticks when possible.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Verb
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YouTube as the new film school, YouTube as the new film festival, YouTube as the new music-video breeding ground — is to dramatically underplay it.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
31 May 2026
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However, because the artists were not of Mexican descent, Chicano music histories often overlook or underplay this era.—
Oliver Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The judge also dismissed a criminal charge related to possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, according to Reuters and ABC News.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all charges in the case, citing new video evidence.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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This is not to downplay the weight of cultural coherence or pretend that all differences are equally productive.—
Tracy Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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While the archival records are managed by the National Archives and Records Administration, the museum exhibits are funded by private donors, who may prefer to highlight positive moments and downplay controversies.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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