Synonyms of understating

understating

verb

present participle of understate

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.

Related Words

• minimizing
• dismissing
• underplaying
• downplaying
• belittling
• denigrating
• disparaging
• playing down
• soft-pedaling
• de-emphasizing
• derogating
• depreciating
• decrying
• deprecating
• talking down
• running down
• crying down
• trashing
• bad-mouthing
• trash-talking
• poor-mouthing
• putting down
• kissing off

Dissimilar Words

• overstating
• exaggerating
• overdoing
• elaborating
• stretching
• overdrawing
• magnifying
• embellishing
• padding
• embroidering
• hedging
• fudging
• overemphasizing
• sensationalizing
• overplaying
• melodramatizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of understating

The difference between annual inflation and the cumulative effect of inflation over multiple years can create a disconnect, economists say, understating inflation’s impact on consumers. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 15 July 2026

As the rescue effort stretched into a fifth day, frustration is growing among survivors and volunteers who accuse authorities of slowing aid deliveries, restricting civilian rescue efforts and understating the true scale of the tragedy. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

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