Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A disclosure or statement that is less than complete.
- noun Restraint or lack of emphasis in expression, as for rhetorical effect.
- noun Restraint in artistic expression.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of understating. That which is understated; a statement of less than the full truth.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of understating, or the condition of being understated; that which is understated; a statement below the truth.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a
disclosure orstatement that isless thancomplete - noun
restraint orlack ofemphasis , especially forironic effect
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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In the end, Mr. Castro, 34, opted for what he described as understatement: pink eye shadow, a bright pink V-neck shirt and intermittent outbursts of tears.
'Not Gay Enough' May Mean Deportation For Some Asylum Seekers nytimes.com 2011
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In the end, Mr. Castro, 34, opted for what he described as understatement: pink eye shadow, a bright pink V-neck shirt and intermittent outbursts of tears.
New Obstancle For Gays Seeking Asylum In America nytimes.com 2011
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In the end, Mr. Castro, 34, opted for what he described as understatement: pink eye shadow, a bright pink V-neck shirt and intermittent outbursts of tears.
New Obstancle For Gays Seeking Asylum In America nytimes.com 2011
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In the end, Mr. Castro, 34, opted for what he described as understatement: pink eye shadow, a bright pink V-neck shirt and intermittent outbursts of tears.
'Not Gay Enough' May Mean Deportation For Some Asylum Seekers nytimes.com 2011
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Business Standard Taxman says DLF diverted funds, questions role of auditors The I-T authorities have slapped a tax liability of Rs 300-400 crore on realty leader DLF over what they called understatement of income and fund diversion by the company.
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The word "understatement" was used a number of times during the call when Reid discussed his trip.
Forbes.com: News Forbes 2011
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The understatement is significant, even though values beyond the 75th year are discounted by
The Budget Debate, VI, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009
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The understatement is significant, even though values beyond the 75th year are discounted by a large amount.
Milton Friedman on Social Security, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009
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I might even be engaging in understatement rather than hyperbole on that last bit.
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More accurately, Ludwig Lewisohn observed in understatement that he “did not bear the glory that had come to him with equanimity or ease.”
uselessness commented on the word understatement
Understatement is always best.
January 25, 2007