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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.

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When Dolly Parton sang, “Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living,” it was an understatement.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 27, 2026

"To say that the circumstances surrounding how they came to be in the bath are unusual would be an understatement," Raper said in the judgement.

From Barron's Jul. 22, 2026

It would be an understatement to say that the site’s library of films available for logging, rating and reviewing is extensive.

From Salon Jul. 15, 2026

To say that $10bn would blow a hole in the accounts is an understatement.

From BBC Jul. 14, 2026

“Quite a year,” he says to me, and we both laugh at the understatement.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

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

The average of these averages is 101 per cent. for the entire club, and is probably within the truth; for most of the individual figures which go to make up this result are understatements, not overstatements.

From How to Live Rules for Healthful Living Based on Modern Science by Irving Fisher




Vocabulary lists containing understatement


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