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
But even Macron may be understating the sweeping breadth of Musk’s international influence.
—
David Ingram, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2025
With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025
The history of the moment can also not be understated, with Obama not only serving as the first Black president, but also entering the office at a time when the global financial system was on the verge of collapse.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
But these estimates of the direct effects understate what the total effects are likely to be after accounting for the likely secondary effects.
—Ray Dalio, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
David Ingram, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2025
With the arrival of pitchers and catchers, one of the coldest and miserly baseball offseasons in memory is nearing conclusion, and it can’t be understated that, other than the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets (on one player), hardly any team spent any money.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025
The history of the moment can also not be understated, with Obama not only serving as the first Black president, but also entering the office at a time when the global financial system was on the verge of collapse.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
But these estimates of the direct effects understate what the total effects are likely to be after accounting for the likely secondary effects.
—Ray Dalio, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understate
Verb
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Schedule your charges when electric rates are the lowest to minimize these costs.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2025
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Packed with reflective pearls and blurring pigments, the tint aims to minimize color imperfections while hydrating and evening your skin tone.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Some companies overstate the benefits while underplaying the hazards.—
Aimee Pugh Bernard,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
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Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.—
Hylke Faber,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Chutkan granted a request from Smith to dismiss the case after Mr. Trump won the presidential election in November because of a Justice Department policy that forbids the prosecution of a sitting president.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2025
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In October, San Diego Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz dismissed the charge against Lor, ruling that the law requires the threat be specific toward the person allegedly threatened.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While city officials have downplayed characterizations by President Donald Trump and others that the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, had taken over the city, Chamberlain did assert Wednesday that its members controlled several parts of the complex.—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton,
The Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2025
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That clearly has not happened, and lawsuits are pressing that idea further, leaving the White House desperately trying to downplay weeks of Musk’s spotlight-stealing efforts.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understate. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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