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

And yet the United States and its allies’ current defense architecture overemphasizes exquisite capabilities while their adversaries, namely China and Russia, possess vast industrial capacity to scale military production.

— Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of overemphasize

Verb

Don’t get too warm, though Although staying warm is essential — things like fingers don’t work as efficiently when chilled — don’t overdo it.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
One of her concerns is layering products, which can easily lead to overdoing it on the actives.

— Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of overdo

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly framed settler violence in the West Bank as the work of a few dozen fringe youths and said its scale has been exaggerated.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
South Korea’s military, which often accuses the North of exaggerating its military technologies, did not immediately comment on KCNA’s report.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of exaggerate

Verb

The legislation enacts new work requirements and greater vetting for Medicaid, the low-income program that thousands of Alaskans depend on for healthcare.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
But Marxists who dreamed of a workers’ republic could not compete with the reformers in Congress who enacted such measures as a progressive income tax, antitrust legislation, and a ban on child labor.

— Michael Kazin, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of enact

Verb

Kylie Cooper | Reuters Paying more for less However, the size of Republicans’ financial advantage may overstate how much advertising that money can actually buy.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
The concern may be overstated, especially since homeowners don’t ordinarily sell seats.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of overstate

Verb

Men brought in from outside are coached to act out romances with her again and again, performing love, regret and guilt while their tears are gathered.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
If Graham fails in her bid, she can be forgiven for acting out of loyalty and love for her brother.

— Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026