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
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The Unteachables
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Projekt 1065
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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.
The concern that losses from the $2 trillion private-credit market will damage banks in the same way as subprime mortgage debt did are overblown, Adrian told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Ives, who has been reliably bullish on software remaining relevant in the artificial-intelligence age, says investors are waking up to the realization that AI displacement fears are well overblown.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
That sounds awfully dire and overblown, I know.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
I’ll admit it: I think our collective weeknight blender hatred is a bit overblown.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
The proposal won him only a stern lecture from Lewis Strauss, who maintained that concerns over fallout were overblown, and therefore a ban was unnecessary.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
