overblown
1 Americanadjective
-
overdone or excessive.
overblown praise.
-
of unusually large size or proportions.
a majestic, overblown figure.
-
overinflated; turgid; bombastic; pretentious.
overblown prose.
verb
adjective
adjective
-
overdone or excessive
-
bombastic; turgid
overblown prose
-
(of flowers, such as the rose) past the stage of full bloom
Etymology
Origin of overblown1
First recorded in 1590–1600; over- + blown 1
Origin of overblown2
Explanation
Overblown describes fears or concerns that are excessive, such as a overblown worry that people will notice a spot of dirt on your shoe and decide not to be your friend anymore. Overblown is a word gardeners use to describe their flowers that, having bloomed, now hang heavy on their stems. You can use it to describe other things that are past their prime like an overblown fashion trend everyone is tired of. Another meaning is an extreme display of vanity, like the overblown decorating style of a famous actor's home — complete with photos, memorabilia from past films, and award trophies everywhere you look.
Vocabulary lists containing overblown
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 7
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Unteachables
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Projekt 1065
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Overblown though it is, good could well come of all this.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2019
Overblown rhetoric is actually a warning sign, he says, a sort of “the lady doth protest too much” indication that the speaker is worried, big time.
From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2013
Overblown, perhaps, but no doubt the yearning has some relation to the bloating of the league in the interests of holding it together, mostly by worshiping at the altar of football.
From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2011
Consider this ABC News headline "Fatal Fungus Cryptococcus Gattii: Experts Say Fears Overblown," which strangely dismisses a fear of its own making.
From Time • Apr. 23, 2010
Overblown press stories and Rifkin's rhetoric about the two cases have raised the specter of re-engineered microbes escaping into the environment with dire consequences.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
