the understatement of the year
noun phrase
—used of a statement that makes something seem much smaller, much less important, etc., than it really is
"I may have overreacted a little." "That's the understatement of the year!"
Examples of the understatement of the year in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To say that the art market is on shaky ground may be the understatement of the year.
—
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Oct. 2024
To call my husband picky might be the understatement of the year.
—Ariel Scotti, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2023
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.
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Oct. 2024
To call my husband picky might be the understatement of the year.
—Ariel Scotti, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2023
Dictionary Entries Near the understatement of the year
Cite this Entry
“The understatement of the year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20understatement%20of%20the%20year. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share