undersell
verb
un·der·sell
ˌən-dər-ˈsel 
undersold
ˌən-dər-ˈsōld
; underselling
; underselling
1
: to sell articles cheaper than
undersell a competitor
we will not be undersold
2
: to sell cheaper than
imported cars that undersell domestic ones
3
: to present or speak of (something or someone) as having a lower value or less importance than is actual or deserved : underrate
advising job applicants not to undersell themselves
Don't undersell the qualities of a worthy trail horse …—
Lucie Stigler
Lucie StiglerDylan's musicianship is often undersold by critics …—Amanda Petrusich
Amanda PetrusichExamples of undersell in a Sentence
They promised to undersell their competitors.
We will not be undersold.
imported cars that undersell domestic models
Recent Examples on the Web
Worryingly, Tuesday’s run undersold the Studebaker, the Fine Arts Building’s in-house theater.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
If anything, this diagram undersells the control complexity here.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2024
But that casualness really undersells what a huge change this is.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 11 Sep. 2024
Calling it just a pillow seems to undersell its actual usefulness.
—New Atlas, 30 July 2024
People are underselling the Working Families Party, the Democratic Socialists of America and the Justice Democrats.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 27 June 2024
Never underselling the crippling terror that rules Samira’s every move, the actor conveys the conflict between the character’s bitterness and her humanity, remaining tenacious and decisive even when her body starts seriously failing her.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2024
This episode starts to bring all the plot threads together without underselling the characters.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2024
If anything, the authors undersell the point: the tension between these two propositions itself has significant value.
—Stephen I. Vladeck, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024
If anything, this diagram undersells the control complexity here.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2024
But that casualness really undersells what a huge change this is.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 11 Sep. 2024
Calling it just a pillow seems to undersell its actual usefulness.
—New Atlas, 30 July 2024
People are underselling the Working Families Party, the Democratic Socialists of America and the Justice Democrats.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 27 June 2024
Never underselling the crippling terror that rules Samira’s every move, the actor conveys the conflict between the character’s bitterness and her humanity, remaining tenacious and decisive even when her body starts seriously failing her.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2024
This episode starts to bring all the plot threads together without underselling the characters.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2024
If anything, the authors undersell the point: the tension between these two propositions itself has significant value.
—Stephen I. Vladeck, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near undersell
Cite this Entry
“Undersell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undersell. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undersell
verb
un·der·sell
ˌən-dər-ˈsel
undersold
-ˈsōld
; underselling
; underselling
: to sell articles cheaper than
undersell a competitor
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share