underwhelm

[ uhn-der-hwelm, -welm ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈʰwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm /

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See synonyms for: underwhelm / underwhelmed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object) Informal.

to fail to interest or astonish: After all the ballyhoo, most critics were underwhelmed by the movie.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of underwhelm

First recorded in 1945–50; under- + (over)whelm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use underwhelm in a sentence

Now let's take a quick survey of the blockbusters that have underwhelmed this summer at the box office.
Is the Summer Blockbuster Dead?|Kevin Fallon|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maria “Macarena” Paz, a Caracas engineer, is underwhelmed by this explanation.
Who Will Maduro Blame for Venezuela’s Blackout This Time?|Daniel Lansberg-Rodríguez|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So far, pretty much every one of those promised improvements has underwhelmed, and the skeptics have been vindicated.
"Pioneer" Health Care Plans Circle the Wagons Against Pay-for-Performance|Megan McArdle|March 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Clearly the Academy was underwhelmed by the eligible songs this year.
The Oscars: 21 Fixes for the Show So It’s Less Boring|Evan Shapiro|February 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Call me a snob, but I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the food.
Gal with a Suitcase|Jolie Hunt|April 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for underwhelm

underwhelm

/ (ˌʌndəˈwɛlm) /

verb

(tr) to make no positive impact or impression on; disappoint

Word Origin for underwhelm

C20: originally a humorous coinage based on overwhelm

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

underwhelm

Origin of underwhelm

Words related to underwhelm

How to use underwhelm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for underwhelm

Word Origin for underwhelm