undersell

American  

[uhn-der-sel] / ˌʌn dərˈsɛl /

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.

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undersell British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• underseller noun

Etymology

Origin of undersell

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

Example Sentences

But even that eye-popping number undersells just how efficient he was, as he prepares to face the San Francisco 49ers for a spot in the NFC Championship game.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Vartanian also understates the importance of blockchain technology when he acknowledges that “cryptocurrencies and blockchain products have brought efficiencies and advances to payment systems”—faint praise that undersells what is happening in global finance.

From The Wall Street Journal

In fact, he might have been underselling things.

From The Wall Street Journal

But believing that Citigroup is ripe for another relapse undersells how much has changed at the bank—and around it.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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