as in exaggerating
to describe or express in too strong terms
it appears you've somewhat overstated your computer skills, if you can't find the "on" button!
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Recent Examples of overstating
The broader concern critics have raised is that tech companies may be overstating the autonomy of their robots for marketing, investment, or competitive reasons.
—
New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2026
Some scientists, though, warn that overstating the dangers of sport could put children off it, and that participation’s health benefits outweigh the risks.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Win-win might be overstating the outcome.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
With the Heat at 22-20, Spoelstra is not overstating where his team stands.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
That might be overstating things a bit (especially for a few coaches, ahem, Jim Harbaugh).
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The Tribune claimed that the city was overstating the success of the Blue Bag program by determining the recycling rate only when considering garbage sorted at MRRFs when, in fact, a lot of recyclables were going to waste transfer stations where they were hauled to landfills.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week that federal data may be overstating the number of new jobs added by as many as 60,000 per month.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2025
Powell made the striking admission the Fed believes the official payroll figures—which have slowed sharply since the summer—are overstating job growth by roughly 60,000 per month.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2026
Some scientists, though, warn that overstating the dangers of sport could put children off it, and that participation’s health benefits outweigh the risks.
—semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Win-win might be overstating the outcome.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
With the Heat at 22-20, Spoelstra is not overstating where his team stands.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
That might be overstating things a bit (especially for a few coaches, ahem, Jim Harbaugh).
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The Tribune claimed that the city was overstating the success of the Blue Bag program by determining the recycling rate only when considering garbage sorted at MRRFs when, in fact, a lot of recyclables were going to waste transfer stations where they were hauled to landfills.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week that federal data may be overstating the number of new jobs added by as many as 60,000 per month.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2025
Powell made the striking admission the Fed believes the official payroll figures—which have slowed sharply since the summer—are overstating job growth by roughly 60,000 per month.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overstating
exaggerating
Verb
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Christopher Carnahan, a Los Angeles police officer who was accused of skydiving and working out while also collecting disability benefits by exaggerating an on-duty work injury, was charged with two counts of felony insurance fraud, prosecutors said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
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Historically, some doctors have dismissed these differences as women exaggerating their pain or being unable to tolerate the same discomfort as men.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overstating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overstating. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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