ほど〜ない details
Examples
A is not as … as B — the comparison is capped under a benchmark
今年の夏は去年ほど暑くないね。
kotoshi no natsu wa kyonen hodo atsukunai ne.
This summer isn't as hot as last year's. casual
弟は兄ほど食べません。
otouto wa ani hodo tabemasen.
The younger brother doesn't eat as much as the older one. neutral
not so … as to V — a verb clause names the extent being denied
この問題は辞書を引くほど難しくないです。
kono mondai wa jisho o hiku hodo muzukashikunai desu.
This problem isn't hard enough to need a dictionary. neutral
発表は心配したほど大変ではありませんでした。
happyou wa shinpai shita hodo taihen de wa arimasen deshita.
The presentation was not as rough as I had feared. formal
Formation
AはBほど…ないattaches to noun phrase (schematic)〜するほど…ないattaches to plain clause
Notes
Related patterns
Similar
In positive extent clauses ほど and くらい trade places freely (死ぬほど／死ぬくらい疲れた), but the comparative negative admits only ほど — ×Bくらい高くない — and only くらい carries the minimizing "at least" reading.
Lookalikes
Both set A against benchmark B, but より rides a positive predicate while ほど…ない requires a negative one and presupposes B genuinely has the quality — Bより低い makes no such claim about B.