undersell

[uhn-der-sel]

verb (used with object)

undersold, underselling 

1. to sell more cheaply than.

2. to advertise with restraint; understate the merits of (something).

   By underselling his product, he let his hearers convince themselves of its importance.

3. to sell for less than the actual value.

undersell

/ ˌʌndəˈsɛl /

verb

1. to sell for less than the usual or expected price

2. (tr) to sell at a price lower than that of (another seller)

3. (tr) to advertise (merchandise) with moderation or restraint

Other Word Forms

• underseller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of undersell¹

First recorded in 1615–25; under- + sell ¹

Example Sentences

To suggest that the Dodgers needed Yamamoto would be wildly underselling what transpired on Saturday night.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"I really wanted to see the best of our players, but we undersold ourselves today. That's torture for me."

Read more on BBC

“If we miss, we’ve done something totally awesome, rather than underselling what is possible.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I don’t mean to undersell it, but I like that people are into it enough to want to put it on their piece too.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Other research finds women undersell themselves when they think men are watching, and therapists point out that plenty of men still see a partner’s career as a threat to their masculinity.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• deduct 
• diminish 
• knock off 
• mark down 
• modify