underreact

[ uhn-der-ree-akt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to react with less than the expected or appropriate emotion.

Other Words From

• under·re·action noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underreact¹

First recorded in 1965–70; under- + react

Example Sentences

The course’s medical staff was ill-prepared to respond to the wave of injuries created by the harsh new dynamic, the report said, and “repeated exposure to these conditions caused both instructors and medical personnel to underreact to their seriousness.”

From New York Times

“We don’t ever want to overreact, but we also don’t want to underreact or be reactive either,” he said.

From Washington Post

Smith said he tries not to “overreact or underreact,” but the recent wave, he said, “seems to hit a little closer to home.”

From Washington Post

For immunocompromised patients, Kmush said, the concern is generally that their systems would underreact — not overreact — to the shots.

From Washington Post

“We go through this every year, where we always overreact to it, and maybe this time we underreact to it. Or maybe this is just 2020 lulling us into: ‘OK, you guys think you had a hurricane.

From New York Times