put it mildly

Idioms  

1. Understate, say without exaggeration, as in It's a fairly long way to walk, to put it mildly—twenty miles or so. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

However, in the much-discussed third season reunion, and many of the episodes leading up to it, it became clear that their relationship, whatever its status, is troubled, to put it mildly.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Boy Throb lacks the obvious singing talent or physical coordination of the Backstreet Boys, One Direction or BTS, to put it mildly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Neither of those were great times to be buying stocks, to put it mildly.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Three months have come and gone since these proclamations, and to put it mildly, none of them have come to pass.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2025

This is tempting bait, to put it mildly, but racial justice advocates should not take it.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander