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
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
But Powell warns the official numbers may still be understating the weakness in the job market.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
Most importantly, there’s no understating the importance of its affordability.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 24 Nov. 2025
Burry, who has already bet $1 billion against an AI bubble, explained how companies like Meta and Oracle are understating the depreciation of their AI investments to inflate profits and play down their massive capital expenditure programs.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025
Burry this week suggested that companies including Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, Google and Amazon are overstating the useful life of their AI chips and understating depreciation.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025
There is no understating the size and weight of the Panthers losing team captain Aleksander Barkov to season-ending knee surgery, the recovery time set at seven to nine months.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Along the way, commentators have scuttled important details, understating or overstating the movement's potential spoils and perils.
—Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
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
But Powell warns the official numbers may still be understating the weakness in the job market.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
Most importantly, there’s no understating the importance of its affordability.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 24 Nov. 2025
Burry, who has already bet $1 billion against an AI bubble, explained how companies like Meta and Oracle are understating the depreciation of their AI investments to inflate profits and play down their massive capital expenditure programs.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025
Burry this week suggested that companies including Meta, Oracle, Microsoft, Google and Amazon are overstating the useful life of their AI chips and understating depreciation.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025
There is no understating the size and weight of the Panthers losing team captain Aleksander Barkov to season-ending knee surgery, the recovery time set at seven to nine months.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Along the way, commentators have scuttled important details, understating or overstating the movement's potential spoils and perils.
—Jerel Ezell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understating
Verb
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In Greenville … Stop minimizing our voices.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
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These settings reduce the speed and intensity of the tumbling action, minimizing the likelihood of tangling.—
Anyssa Roberts,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Consequently, before dismissing this federal tax credit scholarship careful consideration should be given to who can benefit from this additional funding and if this program allows a win-win situation for both public and private schools across Illinois.—
Froylan Jimenez,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
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My career at The Times started as my mother was dying of ovarian cancer after years of doctors dismissing her health concerns.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But good luck downplaying this moment, because Brown played the same two courses as Scheffler.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, is downplaying the bombshell report suggesting Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss has grown tired of his client.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understating. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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