Is a Hyperbole an Understatement?

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that makes something seem bigger or more important than it really is. It uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, emphasize a point, or evoke humor. Understatement is language that makes something seem less important than it really is.

Are hyperbole and understatement opposites?

Understatement is the description of something as having much less of a particular quality than it does. That often involves representing something as less important, less valuable, or smaller than it is. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole, the term that Professor Elena Passarello explains in her video.

What's an example of an understatement?

There are many examples of understatements used in everyday speech and writing. ... A comedic understatement would be: "It is only a small scratch." Describing a huge storm overnight, a comedic understatement would be: "Looks like it rained a bit last night." You just had to work a double shift.