as in praise
excessive praise
the piano instructor believes in encouraging her students but avoids any overpraise that might make them complacent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to praise
to praise too much
proud parents are likely to overpraise their children for their earnest efforts at making handicrafts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overpraise
Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.
—Armond White, National Review, 24 May 2023
He’s overpraised of course.
—Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 16 Mar. 2023
As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.
—Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Our praise reflex leans toward the superlative in this dank information age, an era when the only artists who transcend the digital noise seem to be the ones whose music gets overpraised on social media for being the most this or the best that.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Vincent Canby’s review in The New York Times seemed hesitant to overpraise the film, which was based on James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel of the same name.
—New York Times, 2 June 2021
Verb
The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement.
—Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Know-nothings pretend that Schrader’s Bressonian mannerisms reveal the spiritual depths of contemporary crisis, when, in fact, Master Gardener repeats the same social-collapse paranoia that made secular reviewers overpraise the religious, racial, suicide-bomber topics of First Reformed.
—Armond White, National Review, 24 May 2023
He’s overpraised of course.
—Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 16 Mar. 2023
As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial.
—Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Our praise reflex leans toward the superlative in this dank information age, an era when the only artists who transcend the digital noise seem to be the ones whose music gets overpraised on social media for being the most this or the best that.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Vincent Canby’s review in The New York Times seemed hesitant to overpraise the film, which was based on James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel of the same name.
—New York Times, 2 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpraise
Noun
-
So, with everything that has happened over the past two weeks, Spurs deserve a lot of praise for their first-half performance against Arsenal.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Granted, the actress is a brand ambassador, but the formula and five-star ratings back up her praise.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Newsom praised the decision and commended his more than 30 years of experience in the transportation sector.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The woman commended Reeves for doing the hike solo.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, eh?—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
These evocations of the French master in a daily newspaper are not the stuff of flattery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
West also applauded a recent reshuffling of Chevron's management team to prioritize younger and home-grown leaders to position the company for its next leg of growth.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Democrats have slammed the spending on immigration enforcement as wasteful, and applauded to move to require the fund to only be spent on preparing for and recovering from natural disasters.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Maurer began to receive international acclaim in 2011, when her work appeared in the Istanbul Biennial.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Released in April 2025, Sinners arrived to critical acclaim and went on to score big box office returns, which were especially impressive for a non-sequel, non-adapted original story.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Malinin was magnanimous afterward, hugging and congratulating surprise gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Then Reddick drove over to Victory Lane, where a teary Michael Jordan was waiting to bear hug him, and where owner Denny Hamlin and teammates Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst were waiting to congratulate him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inside, hyaluronic acid microspheres and peptides draw moisture into the lips, while botanical butters lock it in; depositing onto lips a cooling, balm texture that enhances comfort.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Olive oil chocolate chip cookies, cashew-chia pudding, tahini rice crispy treats, and more desserts made without butter, milk, or cream.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Overpraise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpraise. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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