underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 
underestimated; underestimating; underestimates
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
Examples of underestimate in a Sentence
The city underestimated the cost of the new building.
The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000.
Never underestimate the importance of a good education.
Her talent has always been underestimated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Research published in 2007 in the Journal of the National Medical Association found that physicians are twice as likely to underestimate pain in Black patients compared with all other ethnicities combined.
—
Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024
Once underestimated by her enemies, Martin has found ways to get under their skin.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
But Catherine underestimates Stephen’s suffering, which is already evident to viewers.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underestimate 
Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024
Once underestimated by her enemies, Martin has found ways to get under their skin.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site.
—Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024
But Catherine underestimates Stephen’s suffering, which is already evident to viewers.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underestimate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underestimate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Underestimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underestimate. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-də-ˈres-tə-ˌmāt
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
underestimate the cost of a new building
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
underestimate an opponent
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