understate
/'ʌndə'steit/
Definition
- Verb:
- To represent something as being less significant, important, or severe than it actually is; to describe or present in a restrained or modest way.
Usage
- The verb "understate" is used to describe the action of deliberately downplaying the magnitude, importance, or seriousness of something.
- It is often used in formal, journalistic, or analytical contexts to describe a misrepresentation by omission or minimization.
- It is typically a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., to understate a problem, a fact, a difficulty).
Examples
- Verb:
- The official report seemed to understate the true cost of the project.
- To say the negotiations were "a little difficult" is to understate the chaos of that meeting.
- She has a tendency to understate her own achievements.
Advanced Usage
- "to understate the case": To describe a situation in terms that are not strong enough; to fail to convey the full severity.
- To call it a setback is to understate the case; it was a complete disaster for the company.
Variants and Related Words
Understatement (n): A statement that describes something in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, bad, etc., than it really is.
- Saying he was "a bit annoyed" is an understatement; he was furious.
Understated (adj): Presented or expressed in a subtle and effective way; not obvious or loud.
- She prefers an understated elegance in her clothing.
Synonyms
- Downplay
- Minimize
- Soft-pedal
- De-emphasize
Antonyms
- Overstate
- Exaggerate
- Embellish
- Magnify
Related Phrases
- The opposite of overstate: Often used to clarify the concept of accurate representation by contrasting it with its antonym.
- It is better to understate your expectations than to overstate them and be disappointed.
Verb
-
represent as less significant or important
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