1
as in to overemphasize
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Recent Examples of overplay
An impressive defensive coach, he has occasionally been criticized for a certain regular season inflexibility in his rotations and overplaying his best contributors.
—
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Did the Nexstar and Sinclair station groups overplay their hands by aggressively taking on Disney this week?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
The last time Newcastle was in the Champions League two seasons ago, the number of injuries was so high that even those who were fit were overplayed.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
While there are risks for Democrats to overplay their hand in several blue states, members of the party warn there’s risk for their GOP counterparts in red states just the same.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Did the Nexstar and Sinclair station groups overplay their hands by aggressively taking on Disney this week?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
The last time Newcastle was in the Champions League two seasons ago, the number of injuries was so high that even those who were fit were overplayed.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
While there are risks for Democrats to overplay their hand in several blue states, members of the party warn there’s risk for their GOP counterparts in red states just the same.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplay
Verb
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Leaders often overemphasize vision while neglecting those details.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Last year, Vancouver overemphasized size and physicality when building its second and third pairs, which led to a bottom four that was slow, lacked puck-moving skills, and was often hemmed in defensively.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China rejects this view and has blasted Taipei for underplaying the role of Chinese Communists in defeating Imperial Japan.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
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Bader gives a sharp, subtle performance, underplaying in scenes where even an experienced actor might chomp down.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
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,
30 Oct. 2025
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Unlike horror movies built on shadowy boogeymen bouncing out of the dark, The Witch's tone stays quiet, swarming around themes of bewitchery, black magic, and wickedness without overdoing it.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
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There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation.—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Lightspeed survey shows 84% of shoppers believe retailers inflate prices ahead of the sales to exaggerate discounts.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 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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If enacted, many of the policies laid out could significantly alter the day-to-day lives of NASA workers and transform the 67-year-old agency.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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But thus far, the promise has yet to be enacted by his Administration.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He, too, was limited at practice all week yet as the best blocking tight end, his presence could not be overstated.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Early concerns of a collapse in shipping in American ports appear to have been overstated, or at least premature.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Others abused alcohol and drugs, were separated and divorced, or acted out violently.—
Arianna Huffington,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
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As the five-year case unfolded, Betty continually lost court battles and continued to act out.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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