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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of understate
There is no understating the size and weight of the Panthers losing team captain Aleksander Barkov to season-ending knee surgery, the recovery time set at seven to nine months.
—
Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
It was all suitably muted and understated.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Mid-City Restaurant, Downtown Mid-City is one of the friendliest and most understated restaurant/bars in town.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
The result is a headline inflation rate that understates the pain for the median household.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
It was all suitably muted and understated.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Mid-City Restaurant, Downtown Mid-City is one of the friendliest and most understated restaurant/bars in town.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
The result is a headline inflation rate that understates the pain for the median household.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
-
Act quickly to keep the stain from setting and to minimize the damage.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Advanced hull geometry, radar-absorbing coatings, and an electronic degaussing system minimize magnetic and electric signatures.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
China rejects this view and has blasted Taipei for underplaying the role of Chinese Communists in defeating Imperial Japan.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Bader gives a sharp, subtle performance, underplaying in scenes where even an experienced actor might chomp down.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On Wednesday, in documents obtained by Rolling Stone, a California superior court judge overseeing the lawsuit ruled in favor of Kardashian and the anti-SLAPP motion, effectively dismissing the other Cantu’s lawsuit, though the judge left open the possibility of an appeal.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
-
This company’s approach to pest control begins with a philosophy that dismisses the business-as-usual assumptions.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In a separate interview with CNN on Wednesday, Luntz also downplayed inflation as an election issue and drew a distinction with affordability.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One military leader did not name Bahonar but criticized officials who downplay the importance of the hijab mandate.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share