as in minimizing
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 understating
The lack of a clear definition affects trainings on campus (incoming students are required to complete Title IX prevention trainings), campus outreaches, and even understating which supportive measures are mandated to be utilized by counseling centers.
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Eric Wood, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
There is no understating the authenticity of Jelly Roll.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
The beer segment continues to do the heavy lifting — and that might even be understating it.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024
Eric Wood, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
There is no understating the authenticity of Jelly Roll.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
The beer segment continues to do the heavy lifting — and that might even be understating it.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understating
Verb
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This approach ensures a steady cash flow by minimizing overdue payments and reduces the risk of bad debt through proactive monitoring and segmentation.Ashish Srimal, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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Connected infusion pumps can adjust medication dosages automatically based on patient vitals, minimizing errors.Rahul Saluja, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The company stuck to its core DVD rental model while dismissing opportunities to innovate on the periphery.ByMargie Warrell, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Top Stories Just before Christmas, Biden egregiously commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 death row inmates, dismissing years of careful work by prosecutors, judges, and juries.The Editors, National Review, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Modi and many of his BJP allies have spent years demonizing cow-killers while at the same time downplaying lynching reports.Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
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Another option— downplaying the captivity— wasn’t viable in a pre-cable era when the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite, reminded viewers every night on the CBS Evening News exactly how many days the hostages had been held.Jonathan Alter, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near understating
Cite this Entry
“Understating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understating. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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