What Does Understatement Mean?
Understatement is a figure of speech where something is described as less significant, serious, or intense than it actually is. It is often used for humor, irony, or to convey subtlety. For example, saying “It’s a bit chilly” during a snowstorm is an understatement. This rhetorical device plays down the situation or emotion.
Synonyms for “Understatement”:
Minimization
Downplaying
Subtlety
Restraint
Modesty
Soft-pedaling
Humility
Euphemism
Underemphasis
Toning down
Antonyms for “Understatement”:
Exaggeration
Overstatement
Hyperbole
Amplification
Overemphasis
Magnification
Embellishment
Overreaction
Dramatic emphasis
Aggrandizement
Example Sentences:
Saying “The team didn’t do their best” after a huge loss is an understatement.
His claim that the hike was “a little steep” was quite the understatement.
Calling a massive flood “a bit of rain” is a classic understatement.
She used understatement to lighten the seriousness of the bad news.
Describing a genius as “fairly clever” is an understatement of their talent.
