...a serious underestimation of harm to the environment. [+ of]
2. verb
If you underestimate someone, you do not realize what they are capable of doing.
I think a lot of people still underestimate him. [VERB noun]
The first lesson I learnt as a soldier was never to underestimate the enemy. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: underrate, undervalue, belittle, sell short [informal] More Synonyms of underestimate
underestimate in British English
(ˌʌndərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to make too low an estimate of
he underestimated the cost
2.
to think insufficiently highly of
to underestimate a person
noun (ˌʌndərˈɛstɪmɪt)
3.
too low an estimate
▶ USAGE Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: the importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated)
Derived forms
underestimation (ˌunderˌestiˈmation)
noun
underestimate in American English
(ˌʌndərˈɛstəˌmeɪt; for n., ˌʌndərˈɛstəmɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌunderˈestiˌmated or ˌunderˈestiˌmating
1.
to set too low an estimate on or for
noun
2.
an estimate that is too low
Derived forms
underestimation (ˌunderˌestiˈmation)
noun
Examples of 'underestimate' in a sentence
underestimate
The islanders had been blindsided before; it was never wise to underestimate the potential vehemence of such conditions.
Clive Barker GALILEE (2001)
Don't underestimate the capacity of the Roman Church for intervention.
Edward Docx THE CALLIGRAPHER (2001)
We should never underestimate human stupidity, Duane said with conviction.
Adair, Tom (Intro) THREE KINDS OF KISSING - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES (2001)
Never underestimate the horrible things men can do in order to save themselves, Corwin thought.
Kara Dalkey WATER BOOK TWO: REUNION (2001)
In other languages
underestimate
British English: underestimate /ˌʌndərˈɛstɪmeɪt/ VERB
If you underestimate something, you do not realize how large it is or will be.
They underestimated how much work they needed to do.
American English: underestimate
Arabic: يَبْخَسُ
Brazilian Portuguese: subestimar
Chinese: 低估
Croatian: potcijeniti
Czech: podcenit
Danish: undervurdere
Dutch: onderschatten
European Spanish: subestimar
Finnish: aliarvioida
French: sous-estimer
German: unterschätzen
Greek: υποτιμώ
Italian: sottovalutare
Japanese: 過小評価する
Korean: 과소 평가하다
Norwegian: undervurdere
Polish: nie docenić
European Portuguese: subestimar
Romanian: a subestima
Russian: недооценивать
Latin American Spanish: subestimar
Swedish: underskatta
Thai: ประมาณต่ำไป
Turkish: hafife almak
Ukrainian: недооцінювати
Vietnamese: đánh giá thấp
Chinese translation of 'underestimate'
underestimate
(vbˈʌndərˈɛstɪmeɪt; nˈʌndərˈɛstɪmət)
vt
[importance, amount, person]低估 (dīgū)
n(c)
低估 (dīgū)
1 (verb)
Definition
to not be aware or take account of the full abilities or potential of
Never underestimate what you can learn from a group of like-minded people.
Synonyms
undervalue
understate
The government chooses to understate the increase in prices.
underrate
diminish
Even when we're angry we never diminish each other.
play down
minimize
Some have minimized the importance of these factors.
downgrade
miscalculate
He has badly miscalculated the mood of the people.
trivialize
They continue to trivialize the world's environmental problems.
rate too low
underemphasize
hold cheap
misprize
Opposites
exaggerate
,
overstate
, overestimate,
overrate
,
inflate
2 (verb)
Definition
to make too low an estimate of
The first lesson I learnt was never to underestimate the enemy.
Synonyms
underrate
He underrated the seriousness of William's head injury.
undervalue
We must never undervalue freedom.
belittle
We mustn't belittle her outstanding achievement.
sell short (informal)
not do justice to
rate too low
set no store by
hold cheap
think too little of
Opposites
overestimate,
overrate
Usage note
Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: The importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated).
Additional synonyms
in the sense of belittle
Definition
to treat (something or someone) as having little value or importance
We mustn't belittle her outstanding achievement.
Synonyms
run down,
dismiss,
diminish,
put down,
underestimate,
discredit,
ridicule,
scorn,
rubbish (informal),
degrade,
minimize,
downgrade,
undervalue,
knock (informal),
deride,
malign,
detract from,
denigrate,
scoff at,
disparage,
decry,
sneer at,
underrate,
deprecate,
depreciate,
defame,
derogate
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to reduce in authority or status
Even when we're angry we never diminish each other.
Synonyms
belittle,
scorn,
devalue,
undervalue,
deride,
demean,
denigrate,
scoff at,
disparage,
decry,
sneer at,
underrate,
deprecate,
depreciate,
cheapen,
derogate
in the sense of minimize
Definition
to regard or treat as less important than it really is
Some have minimized the importance of these factors.
Synonyms
play down,
discount,
underestimate,
belittle,
disparage,
decry,
underrate,
deprecate,
depreciate,
make light or little of
Synonyms of 'underestimate'
underestimate
Explore 'underestimate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of miscalculate
Definition
to calculate or judge wrongly
He has badly miscalculated the mood of the people.
Synonyms
misjudge,
get something wrong,
underestimate,
underrate,
overestimate,
overrate
in the sense of trivialize
Definition
to make (something) seem less important or complex than it is
They continue to trivialize the world's environmental problems.
Synonyms
undervalue,
underestimate,
play down,
minimize,
scoff at,
belittle,
laugh off,
make light of,
underplay
in the sense of understate
Definition
to describe or portray something in restrained terms, often to obtain an ironic effect
The government chooses to understate the increase in prices.