overcompensation

American  

[oh-ver-kom-puhn-sey-shuhn] / ˈoʊ vərˌkɒm pənˈseɪ ʃən /

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.

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overcompensation British  

/ ˌəʊvəˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• overcompensatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of overcompensation

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

Example Sentences

But it also has a strong whiff of overcompensation.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2024

"It is important to recognize that the grandiose projection of self-importance in a pathological narcissist is overcompensation for extremely low self-esteem," explained psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee in an interview with Salon.

From Salon • Jan. 26, 2023

But what passes for humor in “F9” are self-referential one-liners about invincibility and overcompensation, often delivered by Gibson’s Roman, that fall as flat as a pancaked police car.

From Washington Post • Jun. 22, 2021

Paxton said he rushed his return from the back injury, his mechanics were not what they needed to be, and the overcompensation led to the arm troubles.

From Washington Times • Feb. 18, 2021

After what I’ve been through, some overcompensation is to be expected.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides