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understate
Use
Understate
in a sentence
un·der·state
/
ˌʌn
dərˈsteɪt
/
Show Spelled
[
uhn-der-
steyt
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object),
un·der·stat·ed,
un·der·stat·ing.
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.
Origin:
1815–25;
under-
+
state
Related forms
un·der·state·ment
/
ˌʌn
dərˈsteɪt
mənt
,
ˈʌn
dərˌsteɪt-
/
Show Spelled
[
uhn-der-
steyt
-m
uh
nt
,
uhn
-der-steyt-
]
Show IPA
,
noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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understate
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00:10
Understate
is always a great word to know.
So is
ninnyhammer
. Does it mean:
So is
zedonk
. Does it mean:
So is
flibbertigibbet
. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
understate
(ˌʌndəˈsteɪt)
—
vb
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 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The number may
understate
activity somewhat, as many factories have turned to
temporary workers.
And, quite frankly, much of the problem is that they tend to use it in a way
that they either overstate it or
understate
it.
When making your ratings, please do not overstate or
understate
your level of
experience and capability.
In other words, price indexes are biased to
understate
actual cost of living
increases.
Yes it is important not to overstate causal factors, and it's equally important not to
understate
causal factors.
First, official statistics significantly
understate
growth.
However, it is not helpful to overstate the vulnerability or
understate
the reliability of our present electric power system.
When marking your ratings, please do not overstate or
understate
your level of experience and capability.
In fact, the income differentials
understate
the chasm between college and high school grads.
These figures may actually
understate
the value of copyright.
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Synonyms
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