understating
Saying less than
Understating is representing something as smaller, less important, or less serious than it actually is.
Where exaggerating inflates, understating deflates—often deliberately for effect: To say he's "comfortable" is understating it; the man's a billionaire.
Understating can signal modesty, irony, or British-style reserve.
Diminish perceived importance
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- de-emphasizeMinimize perceived significance
underestimate · trivialize · belittle · diminish · discount · devalue · underrepresent · gloss over
Unassuming about oneself
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- unassumingNot making claims
- demureModestly reserved in manner
- reservedRestrained in manner
unpretentious · down-to-earth · meek · modest · self-deprecating · low-key · plain-spoken · simple
Habitual moderation in behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- reserveSupply kept back
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- restraintControl over impulses
containment · discipline · suppression · muted · measured · controlled · guarded · cautious
Slight shade of difference
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
- hintIndirect suggestion
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
allusion · innuendo · intimation · implication · subtext · tacit · implicit · oblique
downplay
Diminish perceived importance
- underplayMinimize emphasis or expression
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
de-emphasize · underestimate · trivialize · belittle · diminish · discount · devalue · underrepresent · gloss over · brush off
humble
Unassuming about oneself
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- unassumingNot making claims
- demureModestly reserved in manner
reserved · unpretentious · down-to-earth · meek · modest · self-deprecating · low-key · plain-spoken · simple · discreet
temperance
Habitual moderation in behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- reserveSupply kept back
- moderationAvoidance of excess
restraint · containment · discipline · suppression · muted · measured · controlled · guarded · cautious · circumspect
nuance
Slight shade of difference
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
- hintIndirect suggestion
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
insinuation · allusion · innuendo · intimation · implication · subtext · tacit · implicit · oblique · indirect
- downplayingminimizing, downplay, trivializing, belittling, soft-pedal
- literary techniquesforeshadowing, alluding, symbolizing, satirizing, parodying
- speech habitsmumbling, stuttering, stammering, rambling, interrupting
understatingoverstating
Representing as greater than reality
exaggerating · inflating · overestimating · magnifying · amplifying
understatingdramatizing
Exaggerating emotional impact
embellishing · sensationalizing · playing up · hyping · laying it on thick
state, statement, stated, states, restate, overstate, misunderstand, stating, overstatement