What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
downplay
Example
The company tried to downplay the negative effects of their product on the environment. [downplay: verb]
Example
She downplayed her role in the project's success, giving credit to her team instead. [downplayed: past tense]
understate
Example
He understated the amount of money he had spent on the project to avoid criticism. [understate: verb]
Example
The report understated the impact of climate change on the local community. [understated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Downplay is more common in everyday language than understate, which is more often used in formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between downplay and understate?
Understate is more formal than downplay, and is often used in academic writing, legal documents, and other formal contexts where precision and accuracy are important.
