understating

verb

present participle of understate
as in minimizing
to say that (something) is smaller, less important, etc., than it really is He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue/problem.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of understating Recent warnings about the potential destructive power of AI are understating the severity of the situation. — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026 To call Molly and Frankie aimless would be, somehow, both understating the case and missing it completely. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 Investor Michael Burry went further in November 2025, estimating that big cloud firms were understating AI depreciation by about $176 billion from 2026 through 2028. — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 For growing families, there is no understating the importance of the family support system. — John Shumway, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The difference between annual inflation and the cumulative effect of inflation over multiple years can create a disconnect, economists say, understating inflation’s impact on consumers. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 15 July 2026 As the rescue effort stretched into a fifth day, frustration is growing among survivors and volunteers who accuse authorities of slowing aid deliveries, restricting civilian rescue efforts and understating the true scale of the tragedy. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 The state championship results, combined with other recent high finishes for Pepper-Jackson, are at odds with Pepper-Jackson’s lawyers’ previous claims understating the transgender athlete’s performance in girls’ events. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2026 Yes, Reid is understating his profound influence over it all, whether that’s directly through frequent conversations with Veach or via what’s simply understood between them by now. — Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understating
  1. minimizing
  2. dismissing
  3. downplaying
Verb
  • According to Healthline, testosterone may help protect the brain by slowing nerve cell death, promoting regeneration after injury, minimizing nerve damage and reducing inflammation in the nervous system.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Other Preventative Aphid Control Good garden hygiene, even during the fall and winter months, is crucial for minimizing harborage areas for both overwintering aphid eggs and adults, according to Crumbley.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of minimizing
Verb
  • Things get even more alarming when Eidra can’t reach Tom Libby and reports start rolling in that Vaughn is dismissing everyone in Trowbridge’s government who’d had a significant relationship with Kate and her team.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Citing 2026 laureate Navi Pillay—known for charging Israel with genocide and dismissing free speech—Schatz warns the award now rewards ideological insider posturing rather than genuine efforts to achieve international peace.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissing
Verb
  • Eight states sued OpenAI this week, alleging that the AI company caused severe harm to users, many of them underage, while downplaying the risks of its technology.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But in recent months, T-Mobile has been downplaying the satellite service and floating the possibility of working with rival providers.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of downplaying

Browse Nearby Words

understates
understating
understood
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Cite this Entry

“Understating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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