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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of understate
This denim baseball cap adds understated cool to her weekend—and will quickly become a staple in her rotation.
—
Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2025
The risks should not be understated.
—Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Every piece—from the theatrical to the understated, from statement makers to little touches—is seen as a portal into Jacobs’s world.
—Erin Cunningham, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
It can’t be understated how much of a head start Google has in AI.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2025
The risks should not be understated.
—Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Every piece—from the theatrical to the understated, from statement makers to little touches—is seen as a portal into Jacobs’s world.
—Erin Cunningham, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
It can’t be understated how much of a head start Google has in AI.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
-
SpaceX took steps to minimize the chances that the problem would recur on Flight 8.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Brooke High Rise Straight, a narrow straight leg, is finished with laser technology to minimize water usage.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Bader gives a sharp, subtle performance, underplaying in scenes where even an experienced actor might chomp down.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Biden administration dismissed the lawsuit, and prosecutors dropped a grand jury investigation the following year.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
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The revelation immediately erupted into a political crisis, with the head of prisons dismissed and Guatemalans threatening to protest.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And Self was quick to downplay any potential shooting-woes carryover from 2024-25.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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Sirianni tried to downplay questions about the position even when the season approached and the depth chart was unsettled.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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