An adverb for when you're not exaggerating

Question

I want to say,

Your situation is, without exaggerating, more severe than mine.

However, I want to replace "without exaggerating" with an adverb. Something like "undoubtedly".

Now I know the word "unexaggeratedly" has not been born yet, and that I can always use the same sentence I mentioned above, but I love using adverbs in this fashion. I'm curious to know if there's an antonym for the word "exaggeratedly".

Update

I absolutely appreciate anyone taking time to answer and comment. I read the answers, and I accepted @Boneist's answer. But then I thought, that actually doesn't answer my question. I needed a single word (an adverb in this case) to state and refute the idea of exaggeration.

• unarguably means:

  it cannot be argued

• unquestionably means:

  not questionable

Both of these do not refute exaggeration.

Same goes for other answers as well, namely, the most up-voted answer so far by @Ubi hatt:

• actually means:

  As the truth or facts of a situation; really.

  It has nothing to do with exaggeration!

Now, I don't want to invent words (i.e. unexaggeratedly, as suggested by @Toothrot). But maybe that's the only option?

Answer 1

There are couple of good suggestion already given to you. I will add my bit as well. I'd like to suggest the word actually.

Actually (adverb) _{Oxford Dictionary}

As the truth or facts of a situation; really.

That this situation continues and is actually getting worse is simply not good enough

So, your sentence can be rewritten as follows:

Your situation is actually more severe than mine.

UPDATE:

Etymologically exaggeration means "unreasonable or extravagant amplification," 1560s, from Latin exaggerationem.

Further, exaggeratedly is an adverb of the noun exaggeration. According to Oxford dictionary "exaggeration" means "a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is" i.e. a statement or an idea presented in a blowout proportion.

So, something representing opposite to exaggerated should be unexaggerated which in-fact means: Not exaggerated, overblown, or unrealistic.

But, we know that the adverb unexaggeratedly (which you are looking for) does not exist.

So, in that case the idea representing something as "without exaggerating" or not overblown or unrealistic should be actual. Actual according to Oxford dictionary means "Existing in fact; real". An adverb of the word actual is actually. It means "truth or facts of a situation" i.e. something represented without exaggeration.

Answer 2

I would use

literally

: in a way that uses the ordinary or primary meaning of a term or expression

// He took the remark literally.

Here's an example from Reverso.context.net:

"Don't take it literally. He is inclined to exaggerate."

According to Oxford English Dictionary:

In its standard use literally means ‘in a literal sense, as opposed to a non-literal or exaggerated sense’, as for example in "I told him I never wanted to see him again, but I didn't expect him to take it literally."

Answer 3

Saying "your situation is, undoubtedly, more severe than mine" would mean that there is absolutely no doubt that your friend's situation is more severe than yours. The meaning of this adverb is pretty straightforward. It simply means without doubt or certainly. It's a very common, everyday word.

Answer 4

I would use simply:

[Merriam-Webster]
1 a : without ambiguity : CLEARLY
1 b : without embellishment : PLAINLY
1 c : DIRECTLY, CANDIDLY
2 a : SOLELY, MERELY
// eats simply to keep alive
// simply cleaned it up and went to bed
— Garrison Keillor
2 b : REALLY, LITERALLY
// the concert was simply marvellous
—often used as an intensive
// simply crawling with geniuses
— F. Scott Fitzgerald

As you can see, there are a lot of synonyms for simply. Of those, I think that both clearly and plainly would also be good choices for your sentence.

Answer 5

I would go with Unarguably (or inarguably, depending on your personal preference).

Your situation is unarguably more severe than mine.

Or, perhaps, Unquestionably.

Your situation is unquestionably more severe than mine.

I think I'd stick with unarguably, though; that sounds better to my ears.

Answer 6

How about "Your situation is, I shit you not, more severe than mine"?

Urban Dictionary:

The expression means I am being honest.

When someone tells the truth about something usually unbelievable.

Answer 7

I would use definitely. With this, there is no exaggeration or "unexageration" as you say. It just is.

Your situation is definitely more severe than mine.

But if you are searching for a phrase, then I would go with without a doubt

Your situation is, without a doubt, more severe than mine.

Since they are used in everyday conversation, I feel that these would be best fit for many situations.

Answer 8

You might want to use:

realistically

2. In a way that is accurate and true to life.

So, your sentence might be written as follows:

Your situation is, realistically, more severe than mine.

I would think that, in your particular usage, it would draw some similarities between the other person's situation and yours, but wouldn't try to benchmark the severeness of it.

Answer 9

I would use certainly or indeed.

Your situation is certainly more severe than mine.

Your situation is indeed more severe than mine.

But if adverbial phrases are okay with you, I'd opt for 'as it is'.

Your situation, as it is, is more severe than mine.

Answer 10

Without knowing the exact situation, I'd personally go with truly.

It suggests both truth & accuracy, but it hasn't been misused as a few other suggestions have been, so less likely to be interpreted as condescending.

It also doesn't suggest extremes. Unarguably and Unquestionably can be good choices for when the comparisons aren't close, but if they are, I'd go with truly instead.

Answer 11

Seriously

Your situation is, seriously, more severe than mine.

Also the informal word "legit", although listed in most dictionaries only as an adjective, is also used as an adverb. Being quite informal a dictionary probably should not be your guide on how it's commonly used, but Oxford Living Dictionaries and Wiktionary do list it as an adverb. In this case I guess it might be a flat adverb, like "safe" in "drive safe".

legit
adverb
(slang) Honestly; truly; seriously.
He legit thinks he can pass the test on zero sleep.
That legit scared the hell out of me.
Wiktionary

...

The word legit is used to mean 'literally' in utterances like 'I am legit going to fail this test'.
Working with English Grammar: An Introduction (2018)

Answer 12

Consider sincerely, from M-W

in a sincere or truthful way : with truth, genuineness, or straightforwardness

"Your situation is more severe than mine, sincerely." Or "Your situation is, sincerely, more severe than mine.". With a special pause/emphasis around the word.

Edit: Sincerely isn't the best choice for that exact usage, but I wanted to mention it because I think it's a perfect word for most other situations, especially where you might otherwise sound sarcastic, or just like a general nice-ity but you want to make sure they know you're not just saying it to say it. ("Oh, that dress sincerely looks great on you!" or something like that).

Answer 13

To answer the question properly, one must supply an adverb whose meaning is the opposite of 'exaggerate'.

To 'not exaggerate' is to speak plainly.

Plainly : Without ornament or embellishment, simply; without luxury or excess, modestly, frugally.

OED

Your situation is, plainly, more severe than mine.

Answer 14

I am late to answer, but this is my first answer :)

In the given situation, I would prefer the word irrefutably.

Your situation is irrefutably more severe than mine.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/irrefutably

Answer 15

unexaggeratedly

First,

Your situation is, without exaggerating, more severe than mine.

means that your situation does not exaggerate. You want to make yourself the subject of the exaggerating:

Your situation is, without my exaggerating, more severe than mine.

Now: the only adverb that may replace the without clause without changing the meaning of the sentence is

unexaggeratedly

The notion that this is not "formal" or not quite all right so long as it is not in a dictionary is misguided. Nor is it right here to speak of ''inventing words''. The -ly ending is productive: it can generally be attached to adjectives to produce adverbs. The same is true of un-. (You seem to recognize 'exaggeratedly'). Speaking of ''invention'' here is like saying that a sentence that cannot be found by Google is an ''invented sentence'' and therefore not proper English.

Answer 16

Although I don't see them working well/at all in your sentence as written (with "is" being modified), understatedly, conservatively or (to the extent that it's a word), minimis/zingly could arguably qualify as antonyms of "exaggeratedly" (i.e., as synonyms of "unexaggeratedly") and possibly work ok in the following rewrite:

Your situation can be described, [even] conservatively/understatedly/minimis/zingly, as being more severe than mine.

(linked examples above from Pamphlet Architecture 29: Ambiguous spaces; Hemingway on War; and Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology;: The Skanda-Purāṇa (pts. 1-15, 19), respectively, all via Google Books)

Answer 17

I would naturally say:

"your situation is obviously worse than mine".

• I think this language is much more realistic, especially in dialogue.
• It instantly placates and soothes the other person.
• This may or may not be technically accurate - e.g. perhaps their story is commonly regarded as false or exaggerated by others - BUT I am saying that to ME that they are definitely not exaggerating, and that they don't need to labour the point any more.
• The other answers here are great, but too formal, so none of them would sound genuine to me as dialogue... they feel passive aggressive. It's as though they are all followed by "...BUT you're 'foo' so it won't be as much of a 'bar' for you (or insert other passive aggressive/diminishing/non-believing remark here) whereas 'obvious' has no recourse, or qualifier. If something is obvious then the onus of misunderstanding is laid on the intelligence of the observer, not on the 'foo' of the 'victim'.

Answer 18

Your situation is, truthfully, worse than mine. That would convey the idea that there was no exaggeration. However it sounds wrong and I want to add the word "speaking" after the adverb.

Answer 19

unostentatiously

(of an action) in a manner that is not done in an exaggerated way to get people's attention.

(collinsdictionary.com)