How to Use understate in a Sentence

understate

verb

• She's trying to understate the issue.
• He understated his taxable income.
• The thick and doughy crust was one of our faves, but the sauce and cheese are understated.
  — cleveland, 10 Mar. 2020
• The bottle is both understated and bold, just like the scent.
  — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 13 Sep. 2024
• To say that was rare during the Gilded age of the late 1800s is understating it.
  — Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024
• It is understated enough to be worn with anything at all, from jeans to a tux, and the prices aren’t too crazy.
  — Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
• And that may understate the decline in the supply of labor.
  — Greg Ip, WSJ, 21 Sep. 2022
• The thin white lines are understated and clean, while still adding a playful touch.
  — Tasha Nicole Smith, ELLE, 26 July 2023
• The dress code is as understated as a white linen button-up.
  — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 9 July 2024
• The poll may understate support for the most common forms of busing.
  — Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2019
• To say the Pimm’s Cup is extremely British is to still somehow understate it.
  — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 June 2022
• The importance of footwork in the post is not to be understated.
  — Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2025
• Public warnings failed to reach most of those in harm's way, or understated the risk.
  — Joseph Serna, latimes.com, 18 Mar. 2018
• The result is a surface that feels rich and luxe yet still understated.
  — Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2023
• There is just no way to understate how important Sunday's win was for the Colts.
  — Jim Ayello, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2020
• In fact the Big Mac gauge probably understates the general rise in prices and the slide in the currency.
  — The Economist, 25 Jan. 2018
• Your top could be flashy or understated in a black or neutral hue.
  — Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 23 July 2024
• To say there is no love lost between Griffin and Trump is to understate a very public feud.
  — Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2021
• The loss of Redick to the New Orleans Pelicans should not be understated.
  — Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, 3 Aug. 2019
• And some states report in ways that understate their totals.
  — New York Times, 21 Sep. 2020
• The loss of Brontae Harris early in fall camp cannot be understated.
  — Evan Dudley, al, 11 Sep. 2019
• And the trust factor here to both of you, gentlemen, cannot be understated more.
  — Fox News, 1 Aug. 2018
• In both cases, the role of our stars is grossly understated.
  — Jeff Fuhrer, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
• Despite the seriousness of the build, the black-and-white pickup is understated and right at home in Alaskan snow.
  — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2023
• Magid has made a film that’s cool, assured, and understated.
  — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 26 June 2019
• Tesla has been known to play with the numbers, while Ford tends to understate estimates.
  — Brooke Crothers, Forbes, 27 June 2021
• But for a growing number of restaurants, the look is understated, sleek and chic.
  — CBS News, 24 Dec. 2017
• As opposed to the more wild concepts, this one is understated.
  — Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2019
• His performance was full of understatements, and is too understated to win.
  — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025
• Lynch’s tuxedo is understated, his bow tie nothing to remember.
  — Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025

Last Updated: 26 Mar 2025