as in exaggerating
to treat (something) with more importance than is needed or proper
The teacher tends to overemphasize the value of tests. The importance of a healthy diet cannot be overemphasized.
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Recent Examples of overemphasizing
Paternalistic tactics, such as overemphasizing IUDs and implants, undermined young people’s reproductive health preferences and goals.
—
Riley J. Steiner,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026
Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.
—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Still, experts warn that there is such a thing as overemphasizing the data and getting bogged down by less-than-optimal scores.
—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
Riley J. Steiner,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026
Still, overemphasizing national trend lines fails to acknowledge how new converts can change a community.
—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Still, experts warn that there is such a thing as overemphasizing the data and getting bogged down by less-than-optimal scores.
—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overemphasizing
Verb
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Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.
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The four-time Olympian was not exaggerating.
Verb
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The brand aims to stand out in-aisle with clear positioning, emphasizing design, performance, and practical sustainability.
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That was despite intensifying heat that Cage and the communications team would make a point of emphasizing on-site and in messaging.
Verb
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These advocates accuse law enforcement and politicians of overstating the human trafficking problem on Figueroa in order to justify more police actions and the passage of harsher laws.
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Naming the stage clearly (awareness, exploration, active piloting, scaling) prevents organizations from overstating progress and misallocating resources.
Verb
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Have fun walking up and running down the dunes with your pup, but be mindful of the heat and elevation to avoid overdoing it.
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These thoughtful investments during Amazon Prime Day will spread your dollar further, so take advantage of the deals below without overdoing it.
Verb
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Baking soda desiccates plant leaves by removing moisture from the foliage, stressing the plant and ultimately resulting in death.
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Richard Fawal of Voxtopica developed a framework to guide these organizations, stressing the importance of understanding audience behavior and creating engaging content, rather than merely repurposing existing materials.
Cite this Entry
“Overemphasizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overemphasizing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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