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.

Nearby words

overbearing, overbid, overbite, overblouse, overblow, overblown, overboard, overbook, overboot, overbore, overborne

Origin of overblown

First recorded in 1590–1600; over- + blown¹

Definition for overblown (2 of 3)

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

Definition for overblown (3 of 3)

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 (1 of 2)

overblown

/ (ˌəʊvəˈbləʊn) /

adjective

overdone or excessive

bombastic; turgidoverblown prose

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

British Dictionary definitions for overblown (2 of 2)

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