overblown

1 of 2

adjective (1)

over·​blown ˌō-vər-ˈblōn 

: past the prime of bloom

overblown roses

overblown

2 of 2

adjective (2)

1

: excessively large in girth : portly

2

: inflated

overblown claims

overblown rhetoric

also : pretentious

Synonyms

Adjective (2)

• bloated
• exaggerated
• hyperbolized
• inflated
• outsize
• outsized
• overdrawn
• overweening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Fed’s fear of a 1970s style wage-price spiral is also way overblown. —Robert Barone, Forbes, 6 May 2023

Elon Musk, the Music Man of EVs, has built a great company but also sold followers on an incredibly overblown vision. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2023

The network claims that number is a wildly overblown amount designed to grab attention in headlines. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023

But there were also those who came to wonder whether the entire phenomenon had been overblown. —Lauren Hilgers, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2023

Moreover, Prasad, the Cornell professor, said DeSantis’s proclamations of the current administration’s support for CBDCs are overblown. —Ben Weiss, Fortune Crypto, 22 Mar. 2023

The Fox host and his team then crafted a storyline falsely claiming the events of that day were peaceful and, essentially, overblown. —James Pindell, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2023

However, some notable critics think that such fears are overblown or misplaced. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 1 May 2023

Fortunately, the old-timers’ tales and warnings proved to be a bit overblown. —Pete Robbins, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

blow entry 3

Adjective (2)

blow entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1