understatement
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a statement that makes something seem less important or serious than it is, often to be funny or polite.
a figure of speech or statement that represents something as less significant than it truly is, frequently employed for ironic or understated emphasis.
Simple“To say the marathon was 'a bit tiring' is a huge understatement.”
In context“Describing the total collapse of the company as a 'minor setback' was a masterclass in corporate understatement.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'to say that... is an understatement'.
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a style of acting, dressing, or speaking that is simple and not flashy.
the quality of being subtle or restrained in presentation, avoiding excessive decoration or emotional display.
Simple“The room was decorated with elegant understatement, using only grey and white.”
In context“The actor's performance was praised for its quiet understatement, conveying deep grief without a single shout or tear.”
UsageUncountable in this sense.
SynonymsAntonymsflashinessextravagance
“Pyka's planes are sometimes called large drones, but it seems an understatement: they all have 11.5m wingspans.”
“This pre-season has been “more calm,” the sporting director, Simon Rolfes, said with some understatement, and even if Alejandro Grimaldo left for Atlético Madrid, life at BayArena is now stable.”
From under- + statement or understate + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.