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
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
Still, experts warn that there is such a thing as overemphasizing the data and getting bogged down by less-than-optimal scores.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.
—Kate Ruder, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 20 Dec. 2025
Leaders often overemphasize vision while neglecting those details.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Still, experts warn that there is such a thing as overemphasizing the data and getting bogged down by less-than-optimal scores.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.
—Kate Ruder, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overemphasize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasize
Verb
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Dondero is among many Tesla customers accusing the Austin automaker of exaggerating its vehicles’ range.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
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The lack of chemistry between the couple is exaggerated by Segel’s blasé performance, made all the more expressionless by Weaving’s naturally expressive face.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And in some cases, CEOs have less authority, as flatter organizations emphasize collaboration over top-down decision-making.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Rather than chronological or geographical groupings, Barnes emphasized formal relationships of light, line, and color across cultures and time periods.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Popular ideas of killer robots and drone swarms tend to overstate the autonomy of AI systems and understate the role of human beings.—
Jon R. Lindsay,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
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Concerns that private credit could become the next pressure point on Wall Street are mounting, but industry pros said fears of a broader liquidity spiral may be overstated.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fortunately, there’s little danger of overdoing it on vitamin D from food alone.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
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There aren't many downsides to eating fruit, although, as with anything, try not to overdo it.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasize. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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