overemphasize

verb

over·​em·​pha·​size ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz 

overemphasized; overemphasizing

transitive verb

: to give excessive emphasis to (something)

overemphasize risks

We have overemphasized the differences between men and women.

—Zosia Bielski

… people feeling pushed into starting businesses … in a culture that overemphasizes entrepreneurialism.

—Derrick Penner

I can't overemphasize the importance of this turning point in my life.

—Genesse Gentry

We … cannot overemphasize how important it is to keep up with latest security fixes …

—Rene Gielen

The value of a good reputation cannot be overemphasized.

—J. Dwight Pentecost

It's hard to overemphasize how significant this development will be …

—Rich Smith

Examples of overemphasize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, regulatory approaches that overemphasize capabilities and pre-deployment testing will struggle to prevent the harms that emerge in real-world use. —Ion Stoica, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Its importance, however, can be overstated and overemphasized by amateur scouting staffs. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 25 May 2026

The potential impacts of abusing nitrous oxide cannot be overemphasized. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 15 May 2026

Inherent in their definition is a sense of shared fate—a counter to a version of food consumption that overemphasizes individual choice. —Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overemphasize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise