UNDERSTATES Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

understates

verb

present tense third-person singular of understate

as in minimizes

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 understates 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 That split between process and outcomes has left them 90 minutes from something the table understates. — Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 23 May 2026 Andrew Higgins, an aerospace engineer at McGill University, worries that the LEGO-like way that SR-1 Freedom has been planned—with lots of parts from different, unrelated projects just waiting to be bolted together—vastly understates the challenge ahead. — David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026 That number understates the destruction. — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026 Despite our efforts to provide accurate information, the editorial board’s column understates UCHealth’s uncompensated care, mischaracterizes our service to Medicaid patients and perpetuates misconceptions about investment income. — Elizabeth B. Concordia, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025 Despite its warning, the LAO understates the significance. — Joshua Rauh, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025 This understates the conflict’s stakes and in particular the risk of rewarding and thereby normalizing Russia’s zeal to control Ukraine. — Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for understates

Verb

Placing the heavy shielding and reactor components in the middle minimizes the physical stress caused by bending moments at sea and insulates the nuclear systems from external side-impact collisions.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
The 10-mm heel drop (the difference in height between the heel and front of the foot) minimizes pressure when landing and takes stress off the Achilles.

— Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

Definition of minimizes

Verb

While significant layoffs swept ESPN, the article dismisses speculation that high-profile contracts, such as Pat McAfee's, were the direct cause of Ravech's unexpected departure.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
One automatically ascribes fraud to results that are often predictable, even routine; the other dismisses legitimate concerns as conspiracy theories.

— Andrew E. Busch, The Conversation, 23 July 2026

Definition of dismisses

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