overemphasis
noun
over·em·pha·sis
ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-səs 
plural overemphases
ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz
: an excessive amount or degree of emphasis
F. Scott Fitzgeralds's novels and Eugene O'Neill's plays exposed America's overemphasis on money and success.—
Mary Beth Norton et al.
Mary Beth Norton et al.… an overemphasis on design at the expense of function.—Walt Mossberg
Walt MossbergExamples of overemphasis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Overemphasizing Sales Versus Genuine Engagement One of the biggest mistakes is overemphasis on sales instead of pure engagement.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
And as President Dwight Eisenhower famously observed, the doctrine also led to an overemphasis on militaristic solutions, thereby robbing the Treasury of dollars that might have been better spent on domestic priorities.
—Tim Kaine, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
Yet at the same time, the nation’s higher education system faces troubling trends: soaring student debt, insufficient access for low-income students, 60% completion rates, declining public confidence, an overemphasis on inputs not outcomes, enrollment challenges, and shrinking funding.
—Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
In the age of Instagram ads, email marketing campaigns and an overemphasis on curb appeal, Alaskan Salmon Company stands out for focusing on none of that.
—Beth Rankin, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasis
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Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
And as President Dwight Eisenhower famously observed, the doctrine also led to an overemphasis on militaristic solutions, thereby robbing the Treasury of dollars that might have been better spent on domestic priorities.
—Tim Kaine, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
Yet at the same time, the nation’s higher education system faces troubling trends: soaring student debt, insufficient access for low-income students, 60% completion rates, declining public confidence, an overemphasis on inputs not outcomes, enrollment challenges, and shrinking funding.
—Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
In the age of Instagram ads, email marketing campaigns and an overemphasis on curb appeal, Alaskan Salmon Company stands out for focusing on none of that.
—Beth Rankin, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasis
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overemphasis. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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