overcompensate
verb (used with object)
to compensate or reward excessively; overpay.
were overcompensating
-
past progressiveof overcompensate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Gur brought his analysis to the stand during Northington’s five-day pretrial hearing: he said Northington’s brain was oversized and out of balance structurally and actively; flaming yellow areas were overcompensating for blue ones.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 17, 2016
In lyrical moments, like the clarinet line that opens the second-movement Adagio, it seemed as if the players were overcompensating for being out of their usual modern and contemporary repertory, phrasing with exaggerated intensity.
From New York Times ● Aug. 13, 2012
At the front desk the staff was so friendly I suspected they were overcompensating for some unpleasant news they were about to spring.
From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2012
