overstate

verb

over·​state ˌō-vər-ˈstāt How to pronounce overstate (audio)
overstated; overstating; overstates

transitive verb

: to state in too strong terms : exaggerate
overstated his qualifications
overstatement noun

Examples of overstate in a Sentence

It would be overstating the case to say that it was a matter of life or death. it appears you've somewhat overstated your computer skills, if you can't find the “on” button!
Recent Examples on the Web The Footnotes feature last Sunday overstated the observance of daylight saving time in the United States. New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Opponents say cost savings are overstated Opponents say those long-term savings are overstated and pale in comparison to cost reductions of 20% or more that could be achieved based on competitive bidding in other states. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 December and, especially, January likely overstated growth. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Nomura says the recent pickup in payroll gains probably overstates the labor market’s health (after all, it’s based on a survey that gets revised), noting other measures reveal more restrained hiring. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 Medicaid removals overstate the true loss of Medicaid coverage Of crucial importance, people who are eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled are still effectively covered by the program. Brian Blase, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Similarly, the proxy narrative overstates Iran’s role, missing the Islamic Republic’s own limits as a patron. Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2024 The story of a Bay Area exodus always was overstated. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024 But in making their point, opponents of the potential law overstated the economic effect of an even stricter 2010 law. The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overstate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overstate was in 1792

Dictionary Entries Near overstate

Cite this Entry

“Overstate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overstate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overstate

verb
over·​state -ˈstāt How to pronounce overstate (audio)
: to state in too strong terms : exaggerate
overstatement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overstate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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