underdo

American  

[uhn-der-doo] / ˌʌn dərˈdu /

verb (used with or without object)

underdid, underdone, underdoing

1. to do less or in a lesser fashion than is usual or requisite.

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Etymology

Origin of underdo

First recorded in 1605–15; under- + do ¹

Example Sentences

I hope I don’t overdo it or underdo it,’” Mirren says, speaking alongside McKellen at the Corinthia Hotel in London.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2019

We don’t want her to underdo her job.

From The Guardian • Nov. 25, 2015

“All authentication in the end is about being risk-based. You don’t want to overdo security because that can create user burdens, but you don’t want to underdo it because that creates risk.”

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2015

Sometimes the local people overdo the publicity, and sometimes they underdo it.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hence the business man, if he is a good one, will take greater care not to overdo or underdo things than the scientific man can reasonably be expected to take.

From The Note-Books of Samuel Butler by Butler, Samuel