underrated

What it means

1. Not given enough recognition for its quality.

   The hourly EMU service means that Largs, arguably an underrated seaside destination, is easy enough to reach from Glasgow for a day out.

   2025 March 5, “Ayr miles with a 'Spirit of Scotland'”, in RAIL, number 1030, page 46

   1 more example

   Koeman identified Southampton’s third as their finest goal of the game. Jack Cork, the most underrated player at a much-lauded club, swept the ball out wide to Tadic, who waited for Cork to run to the back post before chipping the ball across to him to slam in a deserved goal from close range, despite an attempted block by Vito Mannone.

   2014 October 18, Paul Doyle, “Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter”, in The Guardian

   Antonyms: overrated

In a sentence

Koeman identified Southampton’s third as their finest goal of the game. Jack Cork, the most underrated player at a much-lauded club, swept the ball out wide to Tadic, who waited for Cork to run to the back post before chipping the ball across to him to slam in a deserved goal from close range, despite an attempted block by Vito Mannone.

2014 October 18, Paul Doyle, “Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter”, in The Guardian

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁entér
3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂én
4. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-?
5. Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰí
6. Proto-Indo-European*(H)n̥dʰér
7. Proto-Germanic*under
8. Proto-West Germanic*undar
9. Old Englishunder-
10. Middle Englishunder-
11. Englishunder-
12. Englishrated
13. Englishunderrated

From under- + rated.