UNDERSTATES Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

understates

verb

present tense third-person singular of understate

as in minimizes

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 understates That split between process and outcomes has left them 90 minutes from something the table understates. — Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 23 May 2026 The result is a headline inflation rate that understates the pain for the median household. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025 That number understates the destruction. — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026 Despite its warning, the LAO understates the significance. — Joshua Rauh, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025 This understates the conflict’s stakes and in particular the risk of rewarding and thereby normalizing Russia’s zeal to control Ukraine. — Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025 The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of top executives growing about 4% from 2024 to 2034, roughly the average for all occupations, but the headcount figure understates what is happening. — Sue Mysko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Despite our efforts to provide accurate information, the editorial board’s column understates UCHealth’s uncompensated care, mischaracterizes our service to Medicaid patients and perpetuates misconceptions about investment income. — Elizabeth B. Concordia, Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2025 Andrew Higgins, an aerospace engineer at McGill University, worries that the LEGO-like way that SR-1 Freedom has been planned—with lots of parts from different, unrelated projects just waiting to be bolted together—vastly understates the challenge ahead. — David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for understates

Verb

The standard razor features a moisturizer bar infused with aloe and shea butter, which helps the five sharp blades to glide smoothly over your skin and minimizes irritation.

— Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
These days, some displays use drone shows instead of combustible pyrotechnics, which further minimizes the fire risk.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Definition of minimizes

Verb

Amon, a Brazilian engineer who joined Qualcomm 30 years ago and became its CEO in 2021, dismisses the notion that this is all too much for Qualcomm to chase at once, saying the company has been on this reinvention path many times before.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 June 2026
De Borbon dismisses the accusations as coming from a small group of disgruntled owners.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

Definition of dismisses

Verb

Even as Sand downplays party politics, Democrats are putting faith in him to blaze a trail in the state after struggling electorally in recent cycles.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 June 2026
That's likely why Mindelle downplays that part of the gig, and instead focuses on the comedy that keeps her on her toes.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026