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.
Was it all overblown or was there has been some level of the German asserting his leadership over the whole squad - perhaps recognising and managing that main character syndrome?
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Other fears, such as destabilizing job loss, strike me as overblown or unduly speculative.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
In an email to the Tribune in June, Hughes said the concerns about water use are overblown, noting two nearby golf courses are using more water per acre than his three data center proposals combined.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
There again, immediate concerns may be largely overblown.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 6, 2026
Cell phone industry officials said that the fact traffic deaths hadn’t soared meant that distraction from electronic gadgets was being overblown as a threat.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
