1
as in to overemphasize
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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
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Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Sometimes the functional sibling learns to compensate or cover for the dysfunctional one, to underplay strengths or wear a mask.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Others say such comments underplay the consequences of the oil blockade.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But nighttime pain that woke me every few hours was likely from overdoing, Bugbee’s nurse explained.—
Nicole Sours Larson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Be careful to avoid using salt near trees and other plants, and don’t overdo it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Adrien Brody can’t stop overacting in a commercial for TurboTax.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Charlotte Tilbury shoppers also appreciate that the product doesn’t exaggerate or settle into their fine lines.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
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Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Maryland has enacted a nearly identical law.—
Jeffrey S. Trimbath,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Apr. 2026
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Braun enacted the holiday via emergency declaration — an unusual step — but one that delivers immediate relief at the pump.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That may be overstating the case a little, but at this point the US can’t afford any delays — especially as the war in Iran accelerates global demand for Chinese renewables.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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Yang is again cautious about overstating the outcome.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Friends and family say this isn't the first time in this trial Wright has acted out, from removing himself from the stand to missing court dates.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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This reality means that the environmental review angle can be an effective veto over development by NIMBY groups and others acting out of ideological rather than environmentally-conscious concerns.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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