not to say
phrase
—used to introduce a more forceful or critical way of describing someone or something
He was impolite, not to say downright rude!
Examples of not to say in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is not to say that Trump has not had success influencing America’s electoral system, particularly in the past year.
—
Toluse Olorunnipa,
The Atlantic,
4 July 2026
This is not to say that American workers don’t face challenges.
—
Robert Hormats,
Time,
4 July 2026
But that’s not to say these aren’t real businesses or that the market is on the verge of imploding.
—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Still, this is not to say Rajamouli doesn’t want to get into animation; quite the contrary.
—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for not to say
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Toluse Olorunnipa,
The Atlantic,
4 July 2026
This is not to say that American workers don’t face challenges.
—
Robert Hormats,
Time,
4 July 2026
But that’s not to say these aren’t real businesses or that the market is on the verge of imploding.
—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
Still, this is not to say Rajamouli doesn’t want to get into animation; quite the contrary.
—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for not to say
Cite this Entry
“Not to say.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20to%20say. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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