as in exaggerates
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 overemphasizes
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasizes
Verb
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The same prime minister who exaggerates his power is also fine with being portrayed as the patsy of more influential actors.—
Aluf Benn,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Nov. 2025
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Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.—
Juan J. Arroyo,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But as O’Neill emphasizes, this process quickly becomes political.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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The author emphasizes that these calculations illuminate the nation’s choices and values, noting that the cost extends beyond immediate expenditures to include long-term expenses such as disability payments and medical care for those injured in the conflict.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jennifer Laurin, a law professor at the University of Texas, said the argument overstates what prosecutors are required to disclose.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
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If Al-Hashimi meant that AI avoids 98% of minor documentation errors, then that figure grossly overstates its performance.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasizes. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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