un ‧ der ‧ state /ˌʌndəˈsteɪt $ -ər-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ state , ↑ understate ≠ ↑ overstate ; noun : ↑ statement , ↑ understatement ≠ ↑ overstatement ; adjective : ↑ understated ≠ OVERSTATED ]
to describe something in a way that makes it seem less important or serious than it really is OPP overstate :
The press have tended to understate the extent of the problem.