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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Recent Examples of understates
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 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
The result is a headline inflation rate that understates the pain for the median household.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 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
The result is a headline inflation rate that understates the pain for the median household.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understates
Verb
-
Clean Your Tools Keeping your garden tools clean minimizes the spread of disease in your garden.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Foam’s ability to absorb movement not only minimizes sleep disruptions but can reduce strain on the mattress over time, especially for couples.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ohm, a cynical skeptic, dismisses their claims.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Evy is the skeptic who dismisses the noises as either an online hoax or bad plumbing.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Govan, for his part, downplays the controversy.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Wicker argued that the blueprint — which downplays threats from China, focusing primarily on the Western Hemisphere — ignores implications of the Russia-Ukraine war and lacks information about interests in the Middle East amid the turmoil in Iran.—
The Hill Staff - 03,
The Hill,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understates. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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