Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

understatement

[uhn-der-steyt-muhnt, uhn-der-steyt-] / ˌʌn dərˈsteɪt mənt, ˈʌn dərˌsteɪt- /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The chances of a life as complex and purposefully incongruent as Madonna’s fitting into one feature-length film — even two or three — are slim, and even that’s an understatement.

From Salon Jul. 8, 2026

The long-suffering younger Forster described his father, in an understatement, as having “a tendency toward self-love, pride, and a certain scholarly vanity.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 12, 2026

To call him bullish about the technology’s potential would be an understatement.

From Barron's Jun. 11, 2026

To say it's been a tough few weeks for Hearts fans is a little bit of an understatement.

From BBC May 26, 2026

By nature or by exposure he had become like them, in their understatement, their blunt assertion of will.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

As for the camp factor, many massive understatements in the script will trigger appreciative howls of laughter.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 18, 2025

He still brakes for bad puns and double-negative understatements, but he avoids the kind of under-metabolized research that sometimes alienated his early readers.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 30, 2025

It was one of the greatest understatements of all time.

From BBC Aug. 8, 2025

“Obviously, they’re going through some of their own issues,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said Tuesday in one of the understatements of the college football season.

From Washington Times Nov. 14, 2023

In his presence conversation became pure and colourless and full of understatements, and—just as if he was a real clergyman—neither men nor boys ever forgot that he was there.

From The Longest Journey by E. M. (Edward Morgan) Forster




Vocabulary lists containing understatement


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training