as in simplistic
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as in simplified
to describe (something) in a way that does not include all the facts and details and that causes misunderstanding
The article oversimplifies the problem. She tends to oversimplify things.
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Recent Examples of oversimplified
Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
However, psychologists warn the relationship between schizophrenia and violence is often oversimplified and rarely ever causal.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Instead of learning the textbook definitions of psychological disorders, however, laypeople are absorbing the oversimplified versions, then diagnosing their spouse.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Current research mostly depends on animal models or oversimplified cell cultures, which fail to accurately replicate the full cellular complexity of the human bone marrow and the endosteal niche.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Nov. 2025
The least convincing aspect of the show is the conspiracy itself, which seems oversimplified for a scandal of its magnitude.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s a story worth telling here, a snapshot within a sprawling tragedy, but Avrich can’t make a bigger statement that doesn’t feel oversimplified.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
The challenge with both of these factors—the two most common in oversimplified risk tolerance short cuts—is that they are regularly ignored by the third and often most powerful (albeit least calculable) factor that gauges your gut.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
The Columbia University glaciologist Jonny Kingslake says these processes are oversimplified or omitted in numerical simulations.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
Viewing their actions and ideas strictly through a Cold War lens has oversimplified Korean hopes and ambitions and flattened the complexity of their post-liberation experience.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Users across TikTok and X have also continued to poke fun at the acting, dialogue, oversimplified device hacking and heavy-handed messaging about mass government surveillance and conspiracy theories.
—Austin Mullen, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
As a result, the powerful view the world in bleak and oversimplified terms, breeding suspicion and anxiety.
—Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
However, psychologists warn the relationship between schizophrenia and violence is often oversimplified and rarely ever causal.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Instead of learning the textbook definitions of psychological disorders, however, laypeople are absorbing the oversimplified versions, then diagnosing their spouse.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Current research mostly depends on animal models or oversimplified cell cultures, which fail to accurately replicate the full cellular complexity of the human bone marrow and the endosteal niche.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Nov. 2025
The least convincing aspect of the show is the conspiracy itself, which seems oversimplified for a scandal of its magnitude.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s a story worth telling here, a snapshot within a sprawling tragedy, but Avrich can’t make a bigger statement that doesn’t feel oversimplified.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025
The challenge with both of these factors—the two most common in oversimplified risk tolerance short cuts—is that they are regularly ignored by the third and often most powerful (albeit least calculable) factor that gauges your gut.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
Brain researchers long knew that the model for studying memory oversimplified the complex processes that the brain uses to decide what to keep and for how long.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
The Columbia University glaciologist Jonny Kingslake says these processes are oversimplified or omitted in numerical simulations.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
Viewing their actions and ideas strictly through a Cold War lens has oversimplified Korean hopes and ambitions and flattened the complexity of their post-liberation experience.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Users across TikTok and X have also continued to poke fun at the acting, dialogue, oversimplified device hacking and heavy-handed messaging about mass government surveillance and conspiracy theories.
—Austin Mullen, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oversimplified
Adjective
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Thoughtful, not simplistic Complex problems deserve depth, nuance, and context.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, algorithmic content begins offering boys simplistic, and often toxic, storylines about masculinity, belonging, and power.—
Dr. Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Kia Telluride is taking a model year off, Toyota simplified the bZ4X to bZ, Jeep killed the Wagoneer but continued the more luxurious Grand Wagoneer and Audi streamlined its lineup by merging the A4 into the new A5 and replacing the A7 with the A6 that has a Sportback-like shape.—
Robert Duffer,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Ransomware used to be a popular trend in cyberattacks, but while cyberattacks are still pervasive, attackers have simplified their methods.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oversimplified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oversimplified. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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