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.

It’s hard to overemphasize the chaos an abrupt revocation of identity documents can inflict on a person’s life.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

“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 • Nov. 4, 2025

The researchers are taking care not to overemphasize the results of their findings, saying the changes, while significant, remain slight.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

“I think the authors overemphasize the evolutionary significance of their work,” says Robert Blankenship, an emeritus biochemist at Washington University in St. Louis.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 18, 2023

However, origin stories may leave out key aspects of what actually happened and overemphasize others.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

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