underpraise

[ uhn-der-preyz ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·praised, un·der·prais·ing.

1. to praise to a lesser degree or extent than the circumstances warrant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of underpraise¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; under- + praise

Example Sentences

What I have found in trying to think about Friends From College is that, critically speaking, we have a hard time talking about this regular, degular experience without succumbing to language laden with baggage, language like hate watch or guilty pleasure, language that forces us to over- or underpraise a show when what I want to convey—with no snark!— is that Friends From College is like a microwave burrito of television, something that is not good but is nonetheless good enough.

From Slate

Underpraise, un-dėr-prāz′, v.t. to praise below desert.

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose Calderon was over-praised some twenty years ago: for the last twenty it has been the fashion to underpraise him, I am sure. 

From Project Gutenberg