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
Critics suggest the official estimates are optimistic, potentially understating inflation and the true deficit.
—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 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
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 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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The end goal should not be minimizing the number of systems per se, but rather making sure those systems can be adjusted and integrated quickly to keep up with changing business demands.
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Under the former, the priority is to continue providing water and wastewater services while minimizing creditor losses and restructuring the company so a new owner can be found.
Verb
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Integration Calling genomics the most powerful data asset in biopharma does not mean dismissing other data types.
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For now, Comcast is dismissing M&A talk, but there also is the matter of timing.
Verb
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But critics have accused them of downplaying the risks.
-
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted Wednesday that the opening could be delayed while downplaying any concerns.
Cite this Entry
“Understating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understating. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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