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Showing results for underestimate.
Definitions

underestimate

[uhn-der-es-tuh-meyt, uhn-der-es-tuh-mit, -meyt] / ˌʌn dərˈɛs təˌmeɪt, ˌʌn dərˈɛs tə mɪt, -ˌmeɪt /
VERB
minimize; rate too low
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belittle miscalculate underrate undervalue
STRONG
deprecate depreciate disesteem disparage miscarry slight
WEAK
make light of not do justice put down sell short think too little of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
exaggerate overestimate overrate overvalue praise value
STRONG
approve commend compliment flatter laud
WEAK
maximize

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.

Traders should not underestimate what a long weekend could bring.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Japan may not be considered a global footballing powerhouse - but underestimate them at your peril.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Sports underestimate their human elements, the tics and oddities that make them unique.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Never underestimate the passion of Brazil, which helped power “I’m Still Here” to a win here last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

This was unfortunate not only because Ptolemaeus’s system was wrong, but because it seemed to endorse a measurement of the earth’s circumference of 18,000 miles—a significant underestimate.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.