overcompensate

American  

[oh-ver-kom-puhn-seyt] / ˌoʊ vərˈkɒm pənˌseɪt /

verb (used with object)

overcompensated, overcompensating

1. to compensate or reward excessively; overpay.

   Some stockholders feel the executives are being overcompensated and that bonuses should be reduced.

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verb (used without object)

overcompensated, overcompensating

1. to exhibit psychological overcompensation; strive to overcome a sense of inferiority through overt, opposite behavior.

   The aggressive patient may be overcompensating, and be a profoundly shy person beneath the façade.

overcompensate British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt /

verb

1. to compensate (a person or thing) excessively

2. (intr) psychol to engage in overcompensation

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Other Word Forms

• overcompensatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of overcompensate

1760–70; over- + compensate; as term in psychology, perhaps back formation from overcompensation

Example Sentences

Sometimes the former defensive player of the year is forced to overcompensate for his teammates’ mistakes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

This sounds obvious, she says, but many people “neglect to pause” and try to overcompensate, which causes them to talk in circles.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

The elephantine grand piano can easily bully its smaller partners or timidly overcompensate.

From New York Times • May 6, 2023

He almost always makes a bad move and then tries to overcompensate.

From Salon • Aug. 11, 2022

The train is moving so slowly that I overcompensate with my landing, too used to running off the momentum, and I fall.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth