understatement

== English == === Etymology === From under- +‎ statement or understate +‎ -ment. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌʌndəˈsteɪtmənt/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌʌndɚˈsteɪtmənt/ Rhymes: -eɪtmənt Hyphenation: un‧​der‧state‧ment === Noun === understatement (usually uncountable, plural understatements) (uncountable, rhetoric) A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect. Synonym: meiosis Antonyms: auxesis, hyperbole Hyponym: litotes (countable) An instance of such phrasing or lack of emphasis; an incomplete statement. Synonym: trivialization Antonyms: exaggeration, overstatement Hyponym: laconism An incomplete disclosure that intentionally withholds relevant information. ==== Coordinate terms ==== do a lot of work litote to say the least ==== Derived terms ==== misunderstatement ==== Translations ==== == Dutch == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English understatement. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌɑn.də(r)ˈsteːt.mənt/ (the realisation may approximate English pronunciation: /ər/ will often be realised as [ɚ] or [ə]) Hyphenation: un‧der‧state‧ment === Noun === understatement n (plural understatements, no diminutive) (rhetoric) understatement Synonym: parabool == Italian == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English understatement. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /an.dersˈtɛjt.ment/, /an.dersˈtejt.ment/ Rhymes: -ɛjtment, -ejtment === Noun === understatement m (invariable) (rhetoric) understatement === References ===