• He was…fluent in speech and crashingly dull. If there was an opportunity to be underwhelming, he unfailingly seized it —Observer, 1984.
Modern English usage. 2014.
Underwhelm — Un der*whelm , v. t. To interest less than anticipated; to be dull to (a person). [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
underwhelm — 1956, a facetious play on overwhelm … Etymology dictionary
underwhelm — ► VERB humorous ▪ fail to impress or make a positive impact on. ORIGIN suggested by OVERWHELM(Cf. ↑overwhelming) … English terms dictionary
underwhelm — [un derhwelm′, un derwelm′] vt. [ironic allusion to OVERWHELM] to fail to make a good impression or have a significant impact on … English World dictionary
underwhelm — tv. & in. to fail to impress (someone). □ Your talents simply underwhelm me. □ As we were being underwhelmed by a buxom soprano, my thoughts drifted to more pleasant matters. □ We know you tried, but you just underwhelm … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
underwhelm — transitive verb Etymology: under + overwhelm Date: 1949 to fail to impress or stimulate < the movie underwhelmed most reviewers > … New Collegiate Dictionary
underwhelm — /un deuhr hwelm , welm /, v.t. Informal. to fail to interest or astonish: After all the ballyhoo, most critics were underwhelmed by the movie. [1945 50; UNDER + (OVER)WHELM] * * * … Universalium
underwhelm — verb To fail to impress; to perform disappointingly. Ant: overwhelm … Wiktionary
Underwhelm — cause dissatisfaction by not performing to expectations … Dictionary of Australian slang
underwhelm — Australian Slang cause dissatisfaction by not performing to expectations … English dialects glossary
