1
as in overemphasizing
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in underplaying
Related Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplaying
Verb
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Paternalistic tactics, such as overemphasizing IUDs and implants, undermined young people’s reproductive health preferences and goals.—
Riley J. Steiner,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026 -
Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lamp adds a pop of color and personality without overdoing it, and comes in hues like dark green, navy blue, crimson, and beige.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
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Of course, finding a way to pay homage to a movie that came to define a generation — without overdoing it — would be no small feat.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Brookline, a wealthy suburb of Boston, was the first, enacting its own version in 2021.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
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Meanwhile, San Diego for years was on the cutting edge of facilitating construction of accessory dwelling units or ADUs, enacting perhaps the most permissive rules in California.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Apple just settled a class-action lawsuit for exaggerating the AI capabilities of its newest iPhones.—
Vitaliy Katsenelson,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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This natural state of paralysis prevents the body from physically acting out dreams, which could otherwise lead to injury, Drerup explained.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Rather than acting out on the anger, take a calming moment with some deep breaths, and think about the possibility that your partner was possibly distracted or stressed out.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Garcia sets this all up in a sly way, without overstating it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 May 2026
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While agreeing that the FPV drones were a new challenge, Zehavi cautioned against overstating their impact.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For Johnson, police have to balance not sensationalizing these teen takeovers, while also not writing them off as kids being kids.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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In addition to recentering the story, the new show shies away from violence on screen, so as to avoid sensationalizing Gacy.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Charlie Chaplin mimicking devil horns.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
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This high-rise pair of Wranglers is our affordable way of mimicking Witherspoon's look.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Overplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplaying. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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