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.
While some skeptics say the danger of AI bioweapons is overblown, big AI developers say risks from their tools are increasing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Some might call such fears melodramatic, or overblown.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
The insinuation is that such statements are “just words,” and to have any strong reaction to them is hysterical and overblown.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
However, some industry figures have said the fears were overblown and were being jumped on to generate hype for the industry.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Evan, Jessie, and Mrs. Treski sat watching, silent but for the occasional "Oohhh" and "Aahhh" that seemed to escape from their lips like hissing air from an overblown tire.
From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
