underwhelming
12
4.4
- adjective
- /ˌʌndərˈwɛlmɪŋ/
:
decepcionante
- After all the anticipation, the concert was underwhelming compared to their last performance.
So this is how it looks when it's off Very underwhelming.
- So this is how it looks when it's off Very underwhelming.
- His magic consisted of doing really lame tricks, really underwhelming tricks, but he was actually doing the trick.
- And The weight loss effects of exercise interventions in isolation are underwhelming, which is why dietary interventions need to be paired.
- The downturn followed underwhelming outlooks from the biggest tech companies, along with a bad jobs number.
- Particle physicists in the United States have tried to come up with a strategy to revitalize their research area, and their ideas are somewhat underwhelming.
- And it's a connected thing, whereas a random person underwhelming.
- Most of them were wearing very classic and spectacular underwhelming tuxedos in suits, like at every other gala.
- So even if much of China is now underwhelming gun control, it is not at all clear who will come out on top.
- Wow, that was really underwhelming Fuck you Siri.
Examples
-
After all of that work, the order turned out to be somewhat underwhelming.
Academic text (2011) -
Despite the excitement around the release, the movie turned out to be underwhelming and let many fans down.
-
The response has been underwhelming, to say the least.
Academic text (1996) -
The ending to the first Dead Island was underwhelming, to say the least.
Blog text (13) -
The overall message seems to be that the event was a little bit underwhelming.
Blog text (17) -
Indeed, professional reaction to the idea of doing a collection of essays on this topic was underwhelming.
Academic text (1993) -
This wine is wildly underwhelming, has completely missed my expectations.
-
The downturn followed underwhelming outlooks from the biggest tech companies, along with a bad jobs number.
-
Brandon Graham was the strong-side defensive end and the senior leader of a very underwhelming defensive unit.
Blog text (14) -
The dinner was underwhelming; I expected a lot more from such a high-rated restaurant.
Synonyms
190
1.4
Not as good as you expected or hoped
118
4.4
Not enough or not good enough to do what is needed
109
4.8
Only average in quality and not very good
30
6.1
Dull and showing little energy
17
3.9
Not good enough to be acceptable
15
4.5
Not as good as people expect
14
4.0
Not having new or interesting ideas
14
6.2
Showing little interest or enthusiasm
12
3.7
Less good than you expected and leaving you disappointed
10
7.3
Less exciting than expected and disappointing
9
3.9
Not very good or likely to attract attention
7
3.5
Not interesting or exciting
4
5.6
Less good than the best choice
3
3.2
Not interesting or exciting
1
6.8
Ordinary and not exciting
Not as good as expected or needed
Less exciting than expected after a big build up
Not very good or interesting
Antonyms
584
3.4
Causing people to admire it, like a building or performance, because it is very good
How Impressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
underwhelming = underwhelm (semi-transparent) = under + whelm + ing
Formed from 'underwhelm' + '-ing'; the negating sense of 'under-' is clear but 'whelm' is rare and the modern sense 'fail to impress' is somewhat idiomatic.
Etymology
Underwhelming is built from under- plus whelm (you also know overwhelming), where whelm means 'to cover' or 'to overpower', so under- gives the opposite idea. So underwhelming literally means 'not overwhelming' and is a handy way to say something was disappointing or not as impressive as expected.