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
The national importance of this prosecution cannot be overemphasized.
—
Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
First, a person starts to overemphasize their wins, leading them to gamble more.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
Ignoring character, or believing it’s already addressed, leads to the danger of overemphasizing integrity and accountability while neglecting humanity and humility, for example.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Today, management books and the media overemphasize the individual leader, but ignoring team dynamics creates dysfunction and slows progress.
—Sarah Elk, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
First, a person starts to overemphasize their wins, leading them to gamble more.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
Ignoring character, or believing it’s already addressed, leads to the danger of overemphasizing integrity and accountability while neglecting humanity and humility, for example.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Today, management books and the media overemphasize the individual leader, but ignoring team dynamics creates dysfunction and slows progress.
—Sarah Elk, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasize
Verb
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Forty-one percent of respondents said news outlets generally exaggerate the seriousness of global warming, which is up from 37% in 2024.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
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This response is exaggerated in Raynaud's syndrome.—
Anju Goel,
Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Fremont’s 2024 Homelessness Response Plan emphasized prevention, housing and outreach.—
David Bonaccorsi,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Scrolling Instagram and TikTok was damaging enough to my self-worth prior to pregnancy, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a fitness or lifestyle influencer emphasizing the flatness of their abs mere weeks after delivery to demolish your confidence.—
Michelle Konstantinovsky,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Barcelona were adjudged to have overstated their UEFA PSR position by €267million in 2022, for which they were fined €500,000 by the European governing body.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Yet the failure of plurilateral controls can be overstated.—
Nikita Lalwani,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But don’t overdo it—a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found three sets of 30 seconds of rolling daily is enough to improve symptoms.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
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Washing items with fabric softener can also help with wrinkle prevention, but don't overdo it.—
Katelyn Squiers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasize. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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