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
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 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
-
The school system received significant state and national praise for improved test scores.
-
Florida’s Risk Protection Order law was never designed to win praise from gun-safety advocates.
Verb
-
As the search drags on, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday commended police for their efforts after weeks of shooting incidents brought international attention to the city’s gun violence problem as thousands of soccer fans visit for the FIFA World Cup.
-
In a news release announcing the arrest, Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter expressed condolences to the family and commended the professionalism of the responding officers.
Noun
-
The real danger is not the flattery itself.
-
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and that's exactly why beautiful paint colors are subject to overuse.
Verb
-
After a long line of speakers alternately applauded or slammed the McLean senior living complex’s bid to build 40 more homes, the zoning board in Simsbury continued its hearing until next month.
-
Iran defying obstacles at the World Cup Iran’s Hossein Kanani applauds fans after a 0-0 draw against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Noun
-
The trick went down well with the Swansea supporters and earned a League Two footballer wider acclaim.
-
The group went on to earn national and international acclaim before its swaggering leader, Country Dick Montana, died on stage midway through a 1995 show in Whistler, Canada.
Verb
-
Owens was begrudgingly congratulated by Hitler, but neither he nor the other Black medalists were ever even acknowledged by Roosevelt, who had also refused to endorse a boycott of the Games—an effort led by Black and Jewish organizations that opposed both Nazism and American segregation.
-
In a clip shared on social media, a beaming Kolek could be seen trotting alongside the parade barricade, where scores of fans enthusiastically extended their hands to high-five the point guard and congratulate him.
Noun
-
Each member derives her own realizations from this experience, with its dual crucibles of grindingly hard work and pop adulation.
-
Hymns of praise and adulation are sung in honour of both men.
Verb
-
Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.
-
Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.
Cite this Entry
“Overpraise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpraise. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
