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View synonyms for understate

understate

[ uhn-der-steyt ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·stat·ed, un·der·stat·ing.
  1. to state or represent less strongly or strikingly than the facts would bear out; set forth in restrained, moderate, or weak terms:

    The casualty lists understate the extent of the disaster.



understate

/ ˌʌndəˈsteɪt /

verb

  1. to state (something) in restrained terms, often to obtain an ironic effect
  2. to state that (something, such as a number) is less than it is
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • un·der·state·ment [uhn-der-, steyt, -m, uh, nt, uhn, -der-steyt-], noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of understate1

First recorded in 1815–25; under- + state
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Example Sentences

It’s hard to understate the buzz around Clubhouse, the social media startup that reached a reported $100 million valuation when it had just 1,500 users.

From Fortune

“You can’t understate that experience as a player,” he said.

Averaging the dates of multiple layers provides a reasonable, possibly understated minimum age estimate for the underlying art, the researchers contend.

For instance, investigators understated Azevedo’s qualifications.

As we head into 2021, the importance of SEO as part of a comprehensive marketing strategy cannot be understated.

I don't want to understate either, however; these are the major chronic diseases we should be expecting Medicaid to help.

To say she was disturbed by the results would be to understate her reaction.

On Klaidman's telling ... wow, did those conservatives understate the case.

Yet such tempered remarks may understate the significance of the challenge awaiting Krueger.

I do not understate the complexity and sensitivity of achieving such a global agreement.

Jimmy yelled with joy, and thanked the printer for his intelligent misreading of understate. '

We may be sure, too, that her informant did not understate the personal disadvantages of Sir Abraham Lumley.

The Professor did not understate the case when he had intimated that he was somewhat out of practice at equestrian exercises.

But whilst he certainly did not understate the income, there is reason for thinking he greatly exaggerated it.

On the contrary, there were considerations that would dispose him to understate his income to those correspondents.

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