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Showing results for understated. Search instead for underseated.
Synonyms

understated

American  
[uhn-der-stey-tid] / ˌʌn dərˈsteɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. restrained in design, presentation, etc.; low-key.

    the understated elegance of the house.

Other Word Forms

  • understatedness noun

Etymology

Origin of understated

First recorded in 1935–40; understate + -ed 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She describes her personal experiences with an insight, vulnerability and openness that is reminiscent of the raw emotions of Peet’s recent performances, which traffic in an understated, unassuming power.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Many investors view book value as an understated proxy for intrinsic value.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Importantly, and often understated, tokenized equities remain tied to the traditional financial-asset universe; they are not “crypto-only” fictions but rather a bridge between legacy asset classes and blockchain infrastructure.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

The importance of the new head coach cannot be understated, and even caught the eye of Scotland boss Steve Clarke.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

It is a powerful union whose significance cannot be understated.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.