overreact

verb

over·​re·​act ˌō-vər-rē-ˈakt How to pronounce overreact (audio)
overreacted; overreacting

intransitive verb

: to react to something too strongly : to respond to something with too strong an emotion or with unnecessary or excessive action
I was furious and yelled at him. He told me I was overreacting and to "chillax."Ben Stein
The world isn't coming to an end. You shouldn't overreact to the negative news.Adam Bryant
Some of his animals had become apprehensive and twitchy, overreacting to sound or touch …Mark Caldwell
But the military police overreacted, using tear gas, rubber bullets and excessive force in front of news cameras that spread the images countrywide.Grant Wahl
… the poisonous surfeit of hormones produced by the overreacting immune system.Shannon Brownlee
Sometimes companies in a little bit of trouble are the best investments because the market has overreacted.Orson C. Clay
overreaction noun
plural overreactions
… he had said almost angrily that he couldn't tell her anything without eliciting a huge overreaction. Ann Beattie
This response is an overreaction by your immune system to an otherwise harmless substance, such as pollen or pet dander. Medical Clinic Health Letter

Examples of overreact in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Financial markets often overreact, but this Trump slump is perfectly rational and explicable. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025 In people with a milk allergy, the immune system may overreact to one or more of milk's proteins, such as casein or whey. Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 30 Mar. 2025 Their mother, who is divorced from their father, thinks the woman is overreacting and should try and talk things out. Ashley Vega, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 This leads investors to overreact to market downturns, selling at precisely the wrong moment. True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overreact

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overreact was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“Overreact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overreact. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

overreact

intransitive verb
over·​re·​act ˌō-və(r)-rē-ˈakt How to pronounce overreact (audio)
: to react excessively or too strongly
the body's immune system overreacts to the endotoxinTina Adler
overreaction noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overreact

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