Thesaurus results for OVERACT

overact

verb

Definition of overact

as in to underplay

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of overact Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes. — Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 His presence is fresh, empathetic, often hypnotic, and never overacted. — Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025 One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for overact

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overact

Verb

On the other hand, its artistic approach and wider story arc underplay the horror of WW1 combat.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
In a lot of ways, Abrams’ underplay show at the storied club, billed as a free evening with the star, was more than just a celebration of her new album Daughter From Hell or practice for her upcoming tour.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026

Definition of underplay

Verb

In a corporate environment, leaders who overplay their hand can trigger resistance from peers, boards and other stakeholders.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Last season, Vítek Vaněček struggled in that role, which led the Mammoth to overplay Vejmelka for the second straight season.

— Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Definition of overplay

Verb

The earliest a change could be enacted, per this timeline, is in the 2027 admissions cycle for the cohort entering university in fall 2028.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026
A lot of the objects that were made out of Secondary have to do with structures that are enacted by the body, like a power rack, for example.

— Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of enact

Verb

Whether defendant Tyler Robinson acted out of political animus could be key for prosecutors seeking the death penalty — or for his attorneys in taking that punishment off the table.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Whether defendant Tyler Robinson acted out of political animus could be key for prosecutors seeking the death penalty - or for his attorneys in taking that punishment off the table.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of act out

Verb

But in a case of life imitating art, the show’s entire publicity strategy was inadvertently wrecked by a real-life aristocrat, after reports leaked that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was being eyed for a role in the series.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
But from Ossoff, who cuts a more wholesome figure and doesn’t imitate the president, the attacks are more surprising—and therefore perhaps more effective.

— Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of imitate

Verb

The Trial of Louise Woodward will dramatize the story of Woodward, an 18-year-old British au pair who in 1997 was accused of shaking to death a baby who was left in her care by her host family in Massachusetts.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Two teenagers, aided by an arborist, climbed a 100-foot pine tree outside a Pasadena high school Saturday to dramatize a campaign to stop a soil remediation project calling for the removal of nearly 200 trees at several school campuses.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of dramatize

Verb

At the University of Mississippi, a video went viral of a Black woman surrounded by white students and the white students mimicking ape-like motions toward the woman and making monkey-like calls.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Researchers have developed a six-legged robot that can learn to walk by mimicking a stick insect’s movement patterns.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026