overemphasis

noun

over·​em·​pha·​sis ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-səs How to pronounce overemphasis (audio)
plural overemphases ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz How to pronounce overemphasis (audio)
: an excessive amount or degree of emphasis
F. Scott Fitzgeralds's novels and Eugene O'Neill's plays exposed America's overemphasis on money and success.—Mary Beth Norton et al.
… an overemphasis on design at the expense of function.—Walt Mossberg

Examples of overemphasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Your Friend the Media is playing its predictable part in the overemphasis on costs, because, why not? — Miami Herald, 11 May 2026 An overemphasis on playing a dump-and-chase game suppressed some of his offensive creativity, too. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 From jobs to trade tensions An overemphasis on tech could have broader economic consequences. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026 Its exterior was designed to emulate the Sami style, and there is only one cross in the entire structure to avoid an overemphasis on Christianity. — Arkansas Online, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overemphasis

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overemphasis was in 1858

Rhymes for overemphasis

See All Rhymes for overemphasis

Browse Nearby Words

overemotional
overemphasis
overemphasize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overemphasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overemphasis. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All