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Meanings of understatement in English

Portuguese
eufemismo
Catalan
lítote

A statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said.

eufemismo
Catalan
hipòbole
Spanish
hipóbole

Stylistic device.

Related terms
hipòbole
Antonyms
Examples for "overstatement"
Examples for "overstatement"
1
In an era given to wild overstatement, the words were vanishingly mild.
The Irish Times
2
What part of that particular overstatement could have turned in her favour?
The water room
3
The overstatement may yet turn out to be smaller than initially estimated.
Reuters
4
One of the characteristics of a legend is its overstatement of fact.
Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year
5
It's no overstatement to say that we are all obsessed with sleep.
News.com.au
Usage of understatement in English
1
Barnett has a great way of mixing understatement with completely absurd situations.
Wired
2
Here's a vast understatement: without her, this book simply would not exist.
The world without us
3
That comment was, in truth, a contender for understatement of Open week.
The Guardian
4
In the circumstances, this sounded like the understatement of the tennis year.
The Guardian
5
To say the industry audience was openly stunned would be an understatement.
The Guardian
6
To say the idea didn't go down well would be an understatement.
The South African
7
For him, it's about understatement when bringing someone new into a story.
The Irish Times
8
Saying we love this palette is probably the understatement of the century.
Ebony
9
Even she, who is given to understatement, described this win as amazing.
The Guardian
10
To say I lacked confidence in my soccer skills is an understatement.
Terminal
11
To say Postecoglou's start in senior football was notable is an understatement.
The Guardian
12
To say that the worship service was an event is an understatement.
Unleashing the power of rubber bands: lessons in non-linear lead...
13
At the risk of understatement, I have never seen anything like this.
The Irish Times
14
I haven't had my morning coffee yet.That was an understatement, thought Dale.
A Winter Haunting
15
In the case of Haddish, that cliche is something of an understatement.
The Guardian
16
To say what we've learned is 'disturbing' would be a grave understatement.
Warlord: an alex hawke novel
About this term
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Translations for understatement
Portuguese
eufemismo
Spanish
hipóbole
Understatement through the time
Understatement across language varieties
Ireland
Common
United States of America
Less common
United Kingdom
Rare