underwhelming

Definition

Failing to interest; not as exciting as promised or expected.

Etymology

Facetious play on overwhelm, with under.

Example Sentences

• "If I grant you that the German language is spoken by the overwhelming majority of the German people you will agree with me that the best music of Germany has been composed by the underwhelming minority. Now, if the overwhelming majority of Germans are enemies, it follows that the underwhelming minority of Germans must be friendly."
• "Davis, plush as ever, is a little whiny and underwhelming as Murray's girlfriend, who spends much of her time nurturing Quaid, doing his familiar sweet-natured lummox."
• "But in Washington and just about everywhere else, sales of "The Secret Man," Bob Woodward's story of the source known as Deep Throat, have been underwhelming."