as in to exaggerate
to treat (something) with more importance than is needed or proper
The teacher tends to overemphasize the value of tests. The importance of a healthy diet cannot be overemphasized.
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Recent Examples of overemphasize
If women ski as long as the men do and don’t do it as quickly, that ratio gets out of whack and overemphasizes skiing for the women and not for the men.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Finally, advocates can respond to the argument that merit overemphasizes achievements and undervalues people.
—Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Parents who overemphasize obedience, which can require the suppression of big feelings, run the risk of raising people-pleasers who can’t advocate for themselves and are more likely to grow into anxious, unhappy adults, Raouda says.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Leaders often overemphasize vision while neglecting those details.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Finally, advocates can respond to the argument that merit overemphasizes achievements and undervalues people.
—Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Parents who overemphasize obedience, which can require the suppression of big feelings, run the risk of raising people-pleasers who can’t advocate for themselves and are more likely to grow into anxious, unhappy adults, Raouda says.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Leaders often overemphasize vision while neglecting those details.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasize
Verb
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This was borrowed directly from American sports reporters, with their propensity to exaggerate to make a point, often by citing absurd numbers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
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Goldman Sachs’ David Mericle suggests this reading has perhaps been exaggerated.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The budget emphasizes that HUD funding is insufficient to meet rental assistance obligations.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Patients should see a medical provider for a thorough exam and bloodwork before starting the drugs, the doctor emphasized.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While agreeing that the FPV drones were a new challenge, Zehavi cautioned against overstating their impact.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
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His impact on the music education of Crown Point students can not be overstated.—
Cyril A. Reinicke,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Herzog naturally plays up the enigma at hand with epic grandeur, occasionally overdoing it but usually hitting the mark.—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
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But nighttime pain that woke me every few hours was likely from overdoing, Bugbee’s nurse explained.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasize. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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