overcompensation

[ oh-ver-kom-puhn-sey-shuhn ]

noun

, Psychoanalysis.

1. a pronounced striving to neutralize and conceal a strong but unacceptable character trait by substituting for it an opposite trait.
2. compensation to an unnecessary or unreasonable degree:

   The pay was overcompensation for the work done.

overcompensation

/ ˌəʊvəˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

1. psychol an attempt to make up for a character trait by overexaggerating its opposite

Other Words From

• o·ver·com·pen·sa·to·ry [oh, -ver-k, uh, m-, pen, -s, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcompensation¹

1915–20; over- + compensation; as psychoanalytic term, translation of Überkompensation, coined by Alfred Adler

Example Sentences

However, the study warned that even light predation by humans could stimulate biological overcompensation, similar to when damaged plants rebound by producing more seeds, or coyotes react to culls by having large litters.

From Popular-Science

This is particularly important for fine hair because an overcompensation for lack of power with increased heat won’t do much to boost volume and can quickly cause damage.

From Popular-Science

Perhaps it was some misguided means of overcompensation, an unconscious need to exert control over our situation.

From The Daily Beast

You not only have to judge time, but magnitude; overcompensation is ruinous, too.

From Project Gutenberg