underreach
Not extend enough
Underreach is the opposite of overreach—to fall short of what's needed or possible, to aim too low.
Where overreach implies excessive ambition, underreach suggests insufficient effort or aspiration: The proposal underreaches—we could accomplish far more with this budget.
The word is uncommon, appearing mostly in contexts where overreach is the familiar concept.
Lack of something needed
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- deficitAmount still owed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
- shortcomingA fault or weakness
gap · undershoot · underperformance · falling short · miss · lack · incompleteness · undersupply
Compute incorrectly
- misjudgeEvaluate incorrectly
- undervalueEstimate below true worth
- understateExpress with restraint
- downplayDiminish perceived importance
underrate · underappreciate · minimize · underestimate · lowball · sell short · discount · depreciate
Cautious about altering customs
- restrainedHeld under control
- modestLacking in pretension
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- hesitantSlow to act
guarded · circumspect · measured · reserved · deliberate · prudent · safe · risk-averse
deficiency
Lack of something needed
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- deficitAmount still owed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
shortcoming · gap · undershoot · underperformance · falling short · miss · lack · incompleteness · undersupply · underage
miscalculate
Compute incorrectly
- misjudgeEvaluate incorrectly
- undervalueEstimate below true worth
- understateExpress with restraint
downplay · underrate · underappreciate · minimize · underestimate · lowball · sell short · discount · depreciate · diminish
conservative
Cautious about altering customs
- restrainedHeld under control
- modestLacking in pretension
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
hesitant · guarded · circumspect · measured · reserved · deliberate · prudent · safe · risk-averse · holding back
underreachoverreach
Exceed one's capacity
overextend · overshoot · exceed · surpass · go too far
underreachoverreach
Exceed one's capacity
overambition · overextend · bite off more than one can chew · overcommit · reach for the stars