underexplain
Leave gaps intentionally
To underexplain is to provide insufficient explanation, leaving out details your audience needs to understand.
Teachers underexplain when they assume background knowledge students lack.
Writers underexplain when they skip steps in an argument.
The word often appears alongside its opposite: The report overexplains the obvious and underexplains the complex.
Incomplete or suspicious
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
shallow · underdeveloped · rudimentary · unfinished · unelaborated · bare-bones · skeletal · outline
Concerning only the outermost layer
- shallowWithout much depth
- simplisticExcessively basic, ignoring complexity
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
- glossySmooth and shiny
facile · glib · breezy · flimsy · thin · lightweight · topical · introductory
Remove essential complexity
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
- distortTwist from original form
- skewTwist from straight
- whitewashConceal or coat pale
downplay · minimize · sugarcoat · omit · withhold · conceal · obscure · misinform
Not easily understood
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- opaqueImpassable to light
- impreciseLacking exactness or accuracy
- unspecificLacking precise definition
inexplicit · hazy · fuzzy · indistinct · ambiguous · murky · elliptical · noncommittal
sketchy
Incomplete or suspicious
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
cursory · shallow · underdeveloped · rudimentary · unfinished · unelaborated · bare-bones · skeletal · outline · thumbnail
surface-level
Concerning only the outermost layer
- shallowWithout much depth
- simplisticExcessively basic, ignoring complexity
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
glossy · facile · glib · breezy · flimsy · thin · lightweight · topical · introductory · elementary
oversimplify
Remove essential complexity
- misrepresentDepict inaccurately or falsely
- distortTwist from original form
- skewTwist from straight
whitewash · downplay · minimize · sugarcoat · omit · withhold · conceal · obscure · misinform · deceive
unclear
Not easily understood
unspecific · inexplicit · hazy · fuzzy · indistinct · ambiguous · murky · elliptical · noncommittal · evasive
underexplainoverexplain
Elaborate beyond necessity
over-elaborate · belabor · overelaborate · spell out · expound
underexplainclarify
Make something understandable
elucidate · illuminate · make clear · spell out · simplify