1. to perform a role with restraint or less emotion than expected
Usage: theatrical

Examples

• The director told the actor to underact the dramatic scene.
• She tends to underact in emotional moments on stage.
• Critics praised his ability to underact without losing the audience’s attention.
• The veteran actor chose to underact rather than compete with the scenery.
• Sometimes it’s better to underact than to overdo a performance.
• The subtle approach required her to underact the villain’s rage.