Meaning & use
underestimate
To judge someone or something to be smaller, less important, or less capable than they actually are.
See it in a sentence
Never underestimate how much preparation a marathon really requires.
The opposing team underestimated her, and she scored the winning goal in the final minute.
A note on using this word
Underestimate can also function as a noun for the low estimate itself, as in that figure was a serious underestimate.
Words with a similar meaning
undervaluemisjudge
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
overestimate
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