underwhelm

Definition of underwhelmnext

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underwhelm This is the survival math for a gubernatorial field that has been celebrated primarily for its ability to underwhelm. Tracy Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026 Minnesota United continues to underwhelm at Allianz Field. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026 China’s emissions-reduction plan could also be announced any day but may underwhelm on ambition, climate sources said. Simon Jessop, Reuters, 21 Sep. 2025 Yes, there are teams that constantly underwhelm, but the teams that remain talented and in purgatory hell might be worse off. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for underwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underwhelm
Verb
  • But for two hours the film is just set-piece after set-piece, backed by a deafening score, which becomes rather wearying.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 23 July 2026
  • Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Outdoor brands like Halfdays, FP Movement, Patagonia, and Athleta have quite frankly never looked better, with cheerful colorways, unique designs, and trail-ready pieces all proving that function doesn’t have to mean boring.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That said, woodpeckers are attracted to other types of wood-boring insects, and woodpecker activity doesn’t always indicate that borers are present.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But three weeks into their stay — Spain arrived in New Zealand well in advance of its first game, hoping to draw the sting from the jet lag — the place had started to pall.
    Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
  • But after a time, the combination of abrasive, impenetrably shellacked characters and deliberately, hopelessly tangled shaggy-dog storytelling begins to pall, and viewers may wish for a simpler way in.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2022

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Cite this Entry

“Underwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underwhelm. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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