1
as in to overemphasize
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Recent Examples of overplay
Advertisement China might overplay its hand—that remains a real danger.
—
Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
And now he’s gone, probably, pressured into a resignation after overplaying his hand one too many times.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 29 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
Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
And now he’s gone, probably, pressured into a resignation after overplaying his hand one too many times.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 29 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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Finally, advocates can respond to the argument that merit overemphasizes achievements and undervalues people.—
Kenji Yoshino,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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Parents who overemphasize obedience, which can require the suppression of big feelings, run the risk of raising people-pleasers who can’t advocate for themselves and are more likely to grow into anxious, unhappy adults, Raouda says.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Japan’s Moment To Continue A moment is probably underplaying it a little.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
30 Dec. 2025
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Snow accumulation expected through Monday evening KDKA Weather Center Working these types of systems before, model data normally underplays the strength of the warm air and pushes this rain-snow line too far south.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But don't overdo it, as jade plants can get sunburn from too-harsh direct sun.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
29 Jan. 2026
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The shadow is overdoing it, overpromising, or feeling crushed if the applause doesn’t come fast enough.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The administration has repeatedly downplayed the benefits of immunization, while exaggerating the importance of nutritional supplementation for combatting measles.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
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Charlotte Tilbury shoppers also appreciate that the product doesn’t exaggerate or settle into their fine lines.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Inside, organizers enacted extreme heat protocols, forcing closure of the retractable roofs over the main arenas and postponement of matches on the uncovered outer courts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Lawmakers were pushing a measure, similar to those enacted in Australia and Canada, that would have forced tech giants to pay online publishers for the ransacking, er, use, of their journalistic content.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The depth Helenius and Ostlund have given the forward group is tough to overstate.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Some analysts suggest more than half of all iPhones, but that is overstated.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The actors joked about how trying to put on medical gloves quickly enough while remembering and acting out dialogue can make scenes go sideways in a heartbeat.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
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Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June, Jimenez was watching as parishioners acted out the Nativity scene during a posada, a Latin American tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in search of shelter.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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