overpromise

verb

over·​prom·​ise ˌō-vər-ˈprä-məs 

overpromised; overpromising

transitive + intransitive

: to promise more than is possible or realistic

Political candidates always overpromise or else the electorate won't bother to show up at their rallies.

—Michael Gomez

… received sharp criticism for overpromising and underperforming.

—Industry Week

Then a change in the Facebook algorithm punished click bait, which can tend to overpromise on what it links to. Steep traffic drops followed.

—Jim Rutenberg

To close a deal, bad vendors tend to overpromise features that they claim will be added down the line but never materialize.

—Michael Kan

Examples of overpromise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trade deal agreed this weekend between the US and the European Union hinges on natural gas — but both sides seem to have overpromised what each can realistically buy and sell. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 29 July 2025

Though lofty, the title, as interpreted in recent seasons by the Grant Park Music Festival and the Chicago Symphony, tends to overpromise. —Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025

Brooks points out that Amara's Law has been observed in both the AI and robotics domains, with more than seven decades of hype cycles that have overpromised and under-delivered in terms of ROI. —Marcus Weldon, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025

Part of the disillusionment stems from a belief that Trump overpromised and underdelivered. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpromise

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize