Q. What is understatement?

Understatement is the downplaying of something's true significance. It is the opposite of hyperbole. Some examples are

• "It's just a minor setback" when referring to a devastating problem,
• "I'm only a little tired," when you are visibly exhausted,
• "It is memorable," when referring to something gaudy, and
• "It was slow," when referring to dreadfully boring work shift.

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