overblown

[ oh-ver-blohn ]

/ ˈoʊ vərˈbloʊn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overblown ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

overdone or excessive: overblown praise.

of unusually large size or proportions: a majestic, overblown figure.

overinflated; turgid; bombastic; pretentious: overblown prose.

verb

past participle of overblow.

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Origin of overblown

First recorded in 1590–1600; over- + blown¹

overblown

[ oh-ver-blohn ]

/ ˈoʊ vərˈbloʊn /

adjective

(of a flower) past the stage of full bloom; more than full-blown: an overblown rose.

Origin of overblown

First recorded in 1610–20; over- + blown²

overblow

[ oh-ver-bloh ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈbloʊ /

verb (used with object), o·ver·blew, o·ver·blown, o·ver·blow·ing.

to give excessive importance or value to: to overblow one's own writing.

to overinflate.

to blow over the surface of, as the wind, sand, or the like: dead leaves overblowing the yard.

to blow (a wind instrument or an organ pipe) in such a way as to produce overtones.

verb (used without object), o·ver·blew, o·ver·blown, o·ver·blow·ing.

to overblow a wind instrument.

Origin of overblow

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at over-, blow²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overblown

I suspect he chose the Dred Scott comparison precisely because of its overblown, grandiose nature.
The Right Wing Screams for the Wambulance Over Gay Marriage Ruling|Walter Olson|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Funny enough, my mom and dad soon began watching the show with me, realizing that their initial concerns were overblown.
Growing Up with Bart Simpson|Alex Suskind|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was there, Walker pointed out, that the two of them had the overblown “confrontation” that had now taken over his life.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read|David Weigel|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Dr. Rebecca Brightman, an ob-gyn in private practice, cautioned that such fears are overblown.
The Next Big Environmental Fight: Tampons?|Keli Goff|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But as these athletes make such revelations, critics (and some supporters) say the hubbub is overblown.
The Jason Collins Effect: Yes, They Can|Nicholas McCarvel|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was very much like an overblown Adelphi heroine, and they could see her act for nothing.
The Convert|Elizabeth Robins
By following this rule the overblown rose often makes herself beautiful.
Woman as Decoration|Emily Burbank
The storm which threatened the former was overblown, and he was in season to avert that by which the latter was threatened.
The Life of Francis Marion|William Gilmore Simms
Cornelia blushed; but some of the loose petals of the overblown rose in her bosom became detached, and floated earthward.
Bressant|Julian Hawthorne
Miss von Schwarzenberg's air of dreamy sentimentality dropped from her as the petals of an overblown rose at some rude touch.
The Messenger|Elizabeth Robins

British Dictionary definitions for overblown

overblown

/ (ˌəʊvəˈbləʊn) /

adjective

overdone or excessive

bombastic; turgidoverblown prose

(of flowers, such as the rose) past the stage of full bloom

overblow

/ (ˌəʊvəˈbləʊ) /

verb -blows, -blowing, -blew or -blown

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

to blow (a wind instrument) or (of a wind instrument) to be blown too hard

to blow over, away, or across

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

Word Origin and History for overblown

overblown

adj.

late 15c., "blown over, passed away," past participle adjective from verb overblow "to blow over the top of," of a storm, "to abate, pass on" (late 14c.), from over- + blow (v.). Meaning "inflated, puffed up" (with vanity, etc.) is from 1864.