overthink
verb
over·think
ˌō-vər-ˈthiŋk 
overthought
ˌō-vər-ˈthȯt
; overthinking
; overthinking
: to think too much about (something) : to put too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that is more harmful than helpful
overthink a situation/problem
someone who overthinks and worries too much
"I was a terrible actor when I went to New York. I was scared. I would overprepare, sometimes overthink a role."—
Paul Newman
Paul NewmanFor a while now, I've been finding current fiction hard to read: airlessly competent, relentlessly put-together, overthought.—David Gates
David Gates
overthinker
noun
plural overthinkers
But the problem is I'm an overthinker. I contemplate and consider, deliberate and debate things small and large in my life. Simple things become complicated and easy decisions become complex.
—Alyssa Meier
Alyssa Meier
Examples of overthink in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t overthink it — just go, just jump in the water.
—Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
In other words, best not to overthink things.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Don’t use that power to overthink or prove yourself — use it to connect.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 19 Oct. 2025
Over-Fussing with the Menu Southerners can be guilty of always assuming there needs to be a table buckling under the weight of food, but there is no need to overthink the menu.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overthink
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Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
In other words, best not to overthink things.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Don’t use that power to overthink or prove yourself — use it to connect.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 19 Oct. 2025
Over-Fussing with the Menu Southerners can be guilty of always assuming there needs to be a table buckling under the weight of food, but there is no need to overthink the menu.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overthink
Cite this Entry
“Overthink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overthink. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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