Understate

Pronunciation: /ˈʌndərˌsteɪt/

Understate (verb)

  1. To say that something is smaller, less important, or less serious than it really is.
  2. To present a situation or fact in a way that makes it seem less significant than it actually is.

Examples

  • They tend to understate their achievements in conversations.
  • He often understates the challenges of the project.

Common collocations: understate a fact, understate a situation, understate the risks, understate the impact

Synonyms of Understate

Formal

Neutral

Antonyms of Understate

  • — to exaggerate the importance or significance of something.
  • — to represent something as greater than it actually is.