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

Build Trust With Honest, Human Conversations People are skeptical online because they’ve been overpromised for years. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Yet given the nascence of the industry, some experts worry that wellness clinics are overpromising on their ability to reverse aging. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 8 July 2026

No need to overspend, invest and overpromise just to feel more powerful. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

That sentence does not overpromise but shows responsibility. — Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

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