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understateto describe or present something as being smaller, less important, or less significant than it actually is

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to describe or present something as being smaller, less important, or less significant than it actually is

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌndərˈsteɪt/

Korean meaning: 축소하여 말하다, 과소평가하다, 절제된 표현으로 말하다

Korean pronunciation: 언더**스테**이트

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother always understates her cooking skills, but she's practically a master chef!
  • To say I was 'slightly tired' after running a marathon would be a massive understatement.
  • The government tends to understate unemployment figures during election periods.

understate

VERB

//ˌʌndərˈsteɪt//

to describe or present something as being smaller, less important, or less significant than it actually is

understate concept
💡 Concept

The modest employee understates their record-breaking sales achievement to amazed colleagues

understate rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Don't understate, don't overstate, just demonstrate!

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌʌndərˈsteɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌʌndəˈsteɪt/

🌳Etymology

Prefixunder--
Rootstate

Origin

From the prefix 'under-' (meaning below or less than) combined with the verb 'state' (from Latin 'statum,' meaning to set or place). The word emerged in English to describe the act of presenting something with less emphasis or importance than warranted.

🎵Rhyme

overstateexaggeratedemonstrate
overstate
exaggerate
demonstrate

🔗Collocations

understate the case
understate the importance
understate the problem
deliberately understate
understate one's achievements
understate the risks

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother always understates her cooking skills, but she's practically a master chef!

😄 Fun example

To say I was 'slightly tired' after running a marathon would be a massive understatement.

The government tends to understate unemployment figures during election periods.

He understated his role in the project's success, giving all credit to his team.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

downplayminimizebelittlediminishplay down

Antonyms

overstateexaggerateamplify

Related

understatementmodesthumblerestrained

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