Thesaurus results for OVERACT

overact

verb

Definition of overact

as in to underplay

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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

Still, privately, government officials and business leaders told Semafor that South Africa would not overplay its hand by making any attempt to withhold access to these metals; PGMs make up more than a third of its exports to the US.

— Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
The brothers pepper in POV shots of the climbers to literally put the audience in their shoes, but don’t overplay their hand, maintaining palpable reality even when the challenges mount to comical levels.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of overplay

Verb

Trump signed the bill into law last week but hasn't enacted the measures yet.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
But the Musk trailer, which dropped Thursday, does not appear to fall in the category of the campaign advertising those bylaws were enacted to prevent.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of enact

Verb

Jo, raised by her grandmother, is hyperactive, wild, free-spirited, and a talented artist but often acts out in school.

— Parents, Parents, 25 Sep. 2026
Those include the harrowing night terrors Tony begins to experience — intense, frightening nightmares that cause people with Parkinson’s to violently act out in their sleep.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of act out

Verb

The slow exchange with oxygen is imitated with micro-oxygenation technology — essentially, blowing bubbles through the wine.

— Peter Hahn, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Speaking of the oversized, the collection’s Handloom Cardigan fits the bill but spares you from imitating a balloon, courtesy of those vertical stripes (also known as the oldest optical trick in the fashion book).

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of imitate

Verb

At any rate, Greengrass finally decided to dramatize the Peasants’ Revolt on the second day of the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Nevertheless, the filmmakers have found an affecting way to dramatize the official line that Oasis are the biggest band in the world.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dramatize

Verb

Some really solid casting there in evoking, but not mimicking, either Faist or Abbott.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
In one interview, police brought him back to the home and filmed him recreating the scene, mimicking grabbing his gun, finding Causse, firing off the shots that killed Miller in the hallway, and then calling 9-1-1.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of mimic

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“Overact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overact. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of overact

verb

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