1
as in to overemphasize
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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
And powerful people tend to overplay their hands.
—
Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
Advertisement China might overplay its hand—that remains a real danger.
—Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
But Barkley suggested the players should be careful to not overplay their hand.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 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
Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Dec. 2025
Advertisement China might overplay its hand—that remains a real danger.
—Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
But Barkley suggested the players should be careful to not overplay their hand.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 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
-
Questions at debates and forums have tended to overemphasize who’s giving what to whom over other important matters in this election.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Others say such comments underplay the consequences of the oil blockade.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Though Shakespeare in Love won best picture, Spielberg’s film led a worldwide wave of remembrance for WWII veterans, as well as conversations about previous films underplaying the trauma of combat.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Vanity Fair,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately, there’s little danger of overdoing it on vitamin D from food alone.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
-
There aren't many downsides to eating fruit, although, as with anything, try not to overdo it.—
Sohaib Imtiaz,
Verywell Health,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Adrien Brody can’t stop overacting in a commercial for TurboTax.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
On-screen, the speech’s prestige can overwhelm its existential subject matter, and the passage tends to get overacted.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dondero is among many Tesla customers accusing the Austin automaker of exaggerating its vehicles’ range.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
Murphy's ruling on Monday halted a government memo enacting the new vaccine schedule, and halted the appointments of 13 new ACIP members and all votes taken by them.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Senate Bill 102 seeks to enact some of the strictest statewide regulations on the booming industry.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Researchers say the comments overstate current evidence about the real and promising role that food can play in managing illness.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The still-living members of the Clyburn family act out their heartbreak in a variety of ways.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Furthermore, writing and acting out plays about their experiences with type 1 diabetes also eases children’s anxieties around their condition.—
Elizabeth McClure,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
