overblow
Americanverb (used with object)
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to give excessive importance or value to.
to overblow one's own writing.
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to overinflate.
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to blow over the surface of, as the wind, sand, or the like.
dead leaves overblowing the yard.
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to blow (a wind instrument or an organ pipe) in such a way as to produce overtones.
verb (used without object)
verb
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music to blow into (a wind instrument) with greater force than normal in order to obtain a harmonic or overtone instead of the fundamental tone
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to blow (a wind instrument) or (of a wind instrument) to be blown too hard
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to blow over, away, or across
Etymology
Origin of overblow
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at over-, blow 2
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.
See Examples For:
“There’s a performative aspect where employees overblow their usage of AI so that they appear relevant in the organization,” says Andrea Derler, principal researcher at Visier, which helps companies track and analyze employee work habits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
I’ve just always tried to be ethical and responsible and not overblow a situation or oversell a storm.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2022
But the overblow and waste has many analysts and public officials scratching their heads.
From Fox News ● May 1, 2020
Mr. Walters warned that if pumped too hard, the instrument will overblow.
From New York Times ● Dec. 16, 2015
Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and stood by to hand the foresail; but making foul weather, we looked the guns were all fast, and handed the mizzen.
From Gulliver's Travels Into Several Remote Regions of the World by Thomas M. Balliet
The ship started very well, but the wind "overblew the tide"; she caught in the dock-gates, and settled hard upon the ground, so that there was no possibility of launching her that day.
From Men of Invention and Industry by Samuel Smiles
Mao was introduced to readers as the “Chairman of the Chinese Central Soviet Government”—vastly overblowing his true political status in China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
“It gets a little bit different as we get down to really the final two games, making sure that everybody’s understanding of the circumstances but we’re not overblowing any situation or any game.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 2024
“It was, ‘Oh, this is media pollution, you’re overblowing this,’” she recalled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2020
"I think the attorney general's critics are overblowing what this is," Yoo said.
From Fox News ● Apr. 17, 2019
Theodosia's beauty could hardly be said to fade; it disappeared in the overblowing.
From The Mystery of Witch-Face Mountain and Other Stories by Mary Noailles Murfree
Getting here now — typing away while I sniffle with a cold, a life I wouldn’t change for the world — required carefully deflating a rapidly overblown ego.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
Yet a look at market returns over the past century suggests that those fears may be somewhat overblown.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 4, 2026
Some might call such fears melodramatic, or overblown.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
In their view, the fears are overblown, and Coxon’s resignation has been a tool to accomplish that aim, promoted by some in the effective-altruism movement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
She was no stranger to the overblown courtesies of Qarth.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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