underwhelm
[ uhn-der-hwelm, -welm ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈʰwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm /
verb (used with object) Informal.
to fail to interest or astonish: After all the ballyhoo, most critics were underwhelmed by the movie.
Origin of underwhelm
First recorded in 1945–50;
under- +
(over)whelm
Words nearby underwhelm
underwater,
underway,
underwear,
underweight,
underwent,
underwhelm,
underwhelming,
underwing,
underwire,
underwithhold,
underwood
British Dictionary definitions for underwhelm
underwhelm
/ (ˌʌndəˈwɛlm) /
verb
(tr)
to make no positive impact or impression on; disappoint
Word Origin for underwhelm
C20: originally a humorous coinage based on
overwhelm