understatement
Example Sentences
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"To say that the circumstance surrounding how they came to be in the bath are unusual would be an understatement," she told the court.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 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
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
He paused to give emphasis to his understatement.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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
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 the world of understatements, saying there’s a lot of television out there has to rank among the boldest.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2022
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
Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Introductory
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The Giver
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Rhetoric
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