as in minimizing
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 understating
Oversight models that depend on static scoring risk understating true exposure.
—
Bhavya Bhandari, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The state championship results, combined with other recent high finishes for Pepper-Jackson, are at odds with Pepper-Jackson’s lawyers’ previous claims understating the transgender athlete’s performance in girls’ events.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2026
Yes, Reid is understating his profound influence over it all, whether that’s directly through frequent conversations with Veach or via what’s simply understood between them by now.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Of course, many bank CEOs, analysts and investors disagree, saying private equity firms are understating the potential risks and exposure.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
The Muddy Waters report also alleges that SoFi has been assigning the wrong discount rate to its student loan portfolio—essentially overvaluing it—as well as understating its exposure to loans in default.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Critics of Mamdani accuse him of downplaying the complexities of the city’s vast dispatch system while understating the number of calls that require a police response.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Michkov’s sophomore season has been a dud, and that may be understating it.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In that scenario, the song is actually understating the case.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2025
Bhavya Bhandari, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The state championship results, combined with other recent high finishes for Pepper-Jackson, are at odds with Pepper-Jackson’s lawyers’ previous claims understating the transgender athlete’s performance in girls’ events.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2026
Yes, Reid is understating his profound influence over it all, whether that’s directly through frequent conversations with Veach or via what’s simply understood between them by now.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Of course, many bank CEOs, analysts and investors disagree, saying private equity firms are understating the potential risks and exposure.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
The Muddy Waters report also alleges that SoFi has been assigning the wrong discount rate to its student loan portfolio—essentially overvaluing it—as well as understating its exposure to loans in default.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Critics of Mamdani accuse him of downplaying the complexities of the city’s vast dispatch system while understating the number of calls that require a police response.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Michkov’s sophomore season has been a dud, and that may be understating it.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In that scenario, the song is actually understating the case.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understating
Verb
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As with minimizing soil disturbance, this, too, helps tremendously with controlling erosion, increasing the carbon content of soil and conserving moisture.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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Ambush hunting enables energy conservation while minimizing the risks associated with pursuit; remaining motionless in water for hours also costs comparatively little.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The Browns entered the offseason looking for a replacement after dismissing Kevin Stefanski, and Schwartz quickly emerged as a leading candidate after overseeing one of the NFL's top defenses.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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On May 20, an $850,000 settlement was reached in the case in exchange for dismissing the complaint, according to a news release by Terr’s organization FIRE, which represented Bushart.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Nilsson, an incorrigible Midwesterner, had a history of downplaying her depth.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett painted a rosy picture of the economy Sunday, downplaying Americans' growing pessimism about the economy amid high gas prices and rising inflation as the Iran war goes on.—
Ford McCracken,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understating. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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