as in exaggerating
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 overemphasizing
Paternalistic tactics, such as overemphasizing IUDs and implants, undermined young people’s reproductive health preferences and goals.
—
Riley J. Steiner, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Riley J. Steiner, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasizing
Verb
-
Some may suspect the president is exaggerating.—
Drew Endy,
Washington Post,
4 June 2026
-
The companies, meanwhile, say opportunistic lawyers and public adjusters are playing to fears and driving up costs for everyone by exaggerating the risks and damage.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
That gives players time to power up their gear to protected ice attacks and build up gear emphasizing Thunder, Fire and Dragon elements that can deal more damage.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
-
For Ginsberg, ever-attuned to the rhythmic physicality of verse, the central atom of poetry wasn’t the line or the foot, but rather the breath, emphasizing that his were longer than his free verse hero Whitman because the good, grey poet probably had smaller lungs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
There’s no overstating how much NASA’s Artemis moon exploration program depends on SpaceX and Blue Origin delivering the goods.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
But skeptics say de-extinction is not possible and the company may be overstating its claims.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
28 May 2026
Verb
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And Carys is certainly embracing shopping her mom's previous red carpet picks — even to the point of possibly overdoing it.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
-
While a thin layer can help support the skin barrier, overdoing thick zinc creams daily may feel too heavy for skin types and ironically, could clog pores in oily skin.—
Tatiana Dias,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
During the event, Foster also alluded to the messy situation with Jackman’s ex-wife, stressing the importance of women supporting one another.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
1 June 2026
-
The trust concluded by stressing that preparation is key.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasizing. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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