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

Hollywood depictions tend to severely underplay the intensity of alcoholic consumption in that era.

— Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026
On the other hand, its artistic approach and wider story arc underplay the horror of WW1 combat.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 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

The rest of the network enacts the decision, as other genes are activated or suppressed farther downstream, but isn’t active in it.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
In all, around 26 percent of the tariff increases enacted last year were reflected in retail prices paid by consumers.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of enact

Verb

Men brought in from outside are coached to act out romances with her again and again, performing love, regret and guilt while their tears are gathered.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
If Graham fails in her bid, she can be forgiven for acting out of loyalty and love for her brother.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of act out

Verb

When the third act slows down to dramatize the hours of Altman’s ouster from OpenAI, Guadagnino has almost no way of generating the sort of ice-blooded intrigue that runs in Fincher’s veins.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
The case has been examined in numerous documentaries and TV specials over the decades, but Netflix’s forthcoming project will dramatize the Ramsey family and the investigation surrounding JonBenét’s death.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of dramatize

Verb

Then the weave pattern is very specifically chosen over the course of a year, basically, to be able to mimic a real facial expression.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
The device, known as a neuristor, mimics certain electrical switching behaviors of biological neurons.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026