Underreact

To respond to a stimulus or situation with less emotion, intensity, or action than is warranted or expected. This often implies a lack of appropriate emotional display or a failure to take necessary steps. The degree of underreaction can vary greatly depending on the context, ranging from a subtle understatement to a complete indifference. It suggests a disconnect between the perceived severity of the situation and the individual's expressed response, potentially stemming from emotional suppression, apathy, a misjudgment of the situation, or other psychological factors. This is the inverse of overreacting, where the response is excessive or disproportionate.

Underreact meaning with examples

• When the company announced massive layoffs, Sarah underreacted, simply nodding and returning to her work. Colleagues later expressed concern, noting her usual impassioned nature. This seemingly calm reaction worried her peers who considered the situation an objectively difficult event. It was subsequently found that Sarah was already looking for a new job, and was just waiting to announce her news.
• Despite witnessing the car accident, the driver underreacted, remaining surprisingly calm. The bystanders, witnessing the event first hand, called paramedics, but it wasn't the driver that had the most concerns for the passengers, rather the bystanders. The driver’s subdued response initially surprised them, as they were more concerned with ensuring the safety of the people involved
• The doctor, after receiving the test results, underreacted to the potential seriousness of the diagnosis. He provided little or no reassurance of care which left his patient feeling scared. Her family was concerned about the reaction, and felt a need to find another doctor. It was only after a second opinion, that they were able to address the situation appropriately.
• The audience underreacted to the comedian's jokes. This response discouraged the comedian from continuing, making it even more of a struggle to make the audience laugh. It quickly became evident that they were not going to be a friendly crowd. He had to cut his set short as it was obvious the performance was doomed.