OVERPLAY Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

overplay

verb

Definition of overplay

as in to overemphasize

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

as in to underplay

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of overplay Last season, Vítek Vaněček struggled in that role, which led the Mammoth to overplay Vejmelka for the second straight season. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 June 2026 Asked about the risk of overplaying one of the NHL’s marquee blueliners, Wild coach John Hynes said there is little concern about Hughes’ workload. — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026 Best of all, the Tony nominee smartly resists overplaying the joke, grounding the part enough that Brad's unraveling becomes funnier. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Lue has tried to stagger their minutes to not overplay them. — Janis Carr, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overplay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplay

Verb

Cole did worry that curators might overemphasize the diagnosis, that King would no longer be an artist but an autistic artist, and therefore a symbol of something—resilience, perhaps, or liberation through creativity.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Get and Accept Support The benefits of support from not only your medical team but also loved ones during your cancer journey cannot be overemphasized.

— Joy Emeh, HEALTH, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of overemphasize

Verb

On the other hand, its artistic approach and wider story arc underplay the horror of WW1 combat.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
In a lot of ways, Abrams’ underplay show at the storied club, billed as a free evening with the star, was more than just a celebration of her new album Daughter From Hell or practice for her upcoming tour.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026

Definition of underplay

Verb

That secret shakes Charlie’s love for his intended, messes with work, affects his performance in bed and prompts him to spiral out, overacting at every step.

— Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Adrien Brody can’t stop overacting in a commercial for TurboTax.

— Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026

Definition of overact

Verb

Several attack ads on Talarico, launched by Republican political action committees, have focused on his past support for transgender youth and accused him of exaggerating his faith to garner the Christian vote.

— Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of exaggerate

Verb

Trump signed the bill into law last week but hasn't enacted the measures yet.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
But the Musk trailer, which dropped Thursday, does not appear to fall in the category of the campaign advertising those bylaws were enacted to prevent.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of enact

Verb

As a result, one lead record can understate the number of people involved while overstating the value of a single trackable interaction.

— David Steifman, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Experts, however, question how widespread the fraud in the program is — and whether the administration is overstating its role in the ACA’s enrollment increases.

— Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of overstate

Verb

Those include the harrowing night terrors Tony begins to experience — intense, frightening nightmares that cause people with Parkinson’s to violently act out in their sleep.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
The better to act out empire’s idea of what disgusting demonic sickness looks like.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026