as in to minimize
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 understate
Separately, the Department of Education last year issued Grand Canyon a $37.7 million fine, after an investigation by the office of Federal Student Aid found that GCU had understated the cost of its doctoral programs to the detriment of more than 7,500 former and current students.
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Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 1 Nov. 2024
The significance of Richmond as the inaugural location for this showing cannot be understated.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Oct. 2024
The entertainment value of polls tends to be understated, indirect, and sly.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
With the sunset of the TCJA coming on January 1, 2026, unless legislative intervention occurs, the importance to use one’s exemption amount before it essentially gets cut in half cannot be understated.
—Darren T. Case, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for understate 
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 1 Nov. 2024
The significance of Richmond as the inaugural location for this showing cannot be understated.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Oct. 2024
The entertainment value of polls tends to be understated, indirect, and sly.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
With the sunset of the TCJA coming on January 1, 2026, unless legislative intervention occurs, the importance to use one’s exemption amount before it essentially gets cut in half cannot be understated.
—Darren T. Case, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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In contrast, the single-bore method minimizes street-level disruption.Dan Phan, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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This method, which is based on the idea of moving to where the hottest deer sign and action can be found, is used by many hunters who decide to minimize their hunting gear footprint and overall carry weight.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The contributors underplay the overwhelming pressures of population growth and rapid urbanization in some parts of Latin America, as well as the growing aspirations of middle classes that current growth rates will not soon satisfy.Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
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This double character of Arte Povera—artistic innovation intertwined with political critique—is visible in the artworks, even if the curators underplay it.Wilson Tarbox, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Some critics of President Biden may dismiss his recent apology of the federal Indian boarding schools as a strategy to win votes in what was a tight presidential election race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
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But other Republicans push back on the criticism of Selzer, saying the campaign should not outright dismiss the poll’s findings.Julia Manchester, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Many Hindu nationalists, however, downplay or reject this scenario, in part because of its lingering association with colonial narratives about a race of fair-skinned Aryans conquering the region.ByVaishnavi Chandrashekhar, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
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In relationships with strong traditional roles, many women feel pressure to downplay or keep their differing views quiet to maintain peace with their partners.Erin Coulehan, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near understate
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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