underreaction
|un/der/re/ac/tion|
B2
/ˌʌndərriˈækʃən/
insufficient response
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underreaction' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' or 'less than' and the word 'reaction' from Latin 'reactio', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'actio' meant 'action'.
Historical Evolution
'underreaction' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'reaction', which was used in Middle English as 'reactioun'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a less than expected response', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a response that is less intense or severe than expected or appropriate.
The company's underreaction to the crisis led to further complications.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/11 18:11