understate
verb (used with object)
to state or represent less strongly or strikingly than the facts would bear out; set forth in restrained, moderate, or weak terms.
have understated
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present perfectof understate.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cambage might have understated things when she called it a journey.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 2022
For decades, well-documented changes in quality, new products and substitution biases have understated growth and overstated inflation.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 13, 2019
Previous reporting on Devine’s share of the campaign’s ad buys have understated his take.
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2016
Those figures compare with about 150 cases in a normal year, Brazil’s government says, although a recent WHO study uncovered evidence that figure might have understated the number of cases.
From Time ● Feb. 22, 2016
Naturally anxious as we are to avoid even the appearance of exaggeration, we are still bound to state, that the estimate we have made is greatly deficient, and that we have understated the real statistics.
From Cannibals all! or, Slaves without masters by George Fitzhugh
