underwhelm
verb (used with object)
to fail to interest or astonish.
underwhelmed
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past participleof underwhelm.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof underwhelm.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
underwhelmverb (used with object)to fail to interest or astonish.
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.
But stocks have still underwhelmed of late: The S&P 500 dropped 0.1% Wednesday and is roughly flat this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
However, despite that qualification success, Scotland underwhelmed in all three tournaments, with the win against Haiti earlier this month the only win across the finals.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
Treasury auctions last week underwhelmed, said Tom di Galoma, a managing director at Mischler Financial Group, who pointed to yields that came in higher than expected.
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
Investors were likely underwhelmed by SoFi’s guidance, including an unchanged full-year outlook, as a scathing short report continues to weigh on shares.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
“As aquatic spectacles go, I am a trifle underwhelmed by your lake. Is this where the swans are?”
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
