overemphasize

American

[oh-ver-em-fuh-sahyz] / ˌoʊ vərˈɛm fəˌsaɪz /

especially British, overemphasise

verb (used with object)

overemphasized, overemphasizing

to emphasize excessively.

verb (used without object)

overemphasized, overemphasizing

to use excessive emphasis.

overemphasize British

/ ˌəʊvərˈɛmfəˌsaɪz /

verb

to give excessive emphasis or prominence to (something)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

overemphasis noun

Etymology

Origin of overemphasize

First recorded in 1900–05; over- + emphasize

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.

They worry that their colleagues will risk an unnecessary recession by overemphasizing the hazards of a persistent spell of higher inflation, which they think is remote.

From The Wall Street Journal

“There has been a propensity to overemphasize short term, technical headlines and overlook the broader direction of travel within our industry,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is an intimate space, which meant that Armitage had to do without decor, and which may have led her to overemphasize theatrics.

From Los Angeles Times

She overemphasized abortion rights, a winning issue for Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections that had played out by last week.

From Los Angeles Times

She pointed to the presidential campaign of Harris, who could be the first woman and first person of Asian descent to serve as president, but who Lien said has strategically not overemphasized that fact.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023