overemphasize

verb

over·​em·​pha·​size ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz How to pronounce overemphasize (audio)
overemphasized; overemphasizing

transitive verb

: to give excessive emphasis to (something)
overemphasize risks
We have overemphasized the differences between men and women.Zosia Bielski
… people feeling pushed into starting businesses … in a culture that overemphasizes entrepreneurialism.Derrick Penner
I can't overemphasize the importance of this turning point in my life.Genesse Gentry
We … cannot overemphasize how important it is to keep up with latest security fixes …Rene Gielen
The value of a good reputation cannot be overemphasized.J. Dwight Pentecost
It's hard to overemphasize how significant this development will be …Rich Smith

Examples of overemphasize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study. Kate Ruder, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025 The end of the post–Cold War era has exposed the shortcomings of this approach, which overemphasized collective self-defense commitments and neglected the deeper economic, technological, and strategic ties that are increasingly salient in modern geopolitics. Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025 Without proper incentive alignment, leaders and employees will rationally overemphasize the measurable, short-term benefits and underinvest in the intangible, long-term enablers — reproducing the IT productivity paradox. Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 See how schools did The U.S. News & World Report's rankings have come under scrutiny over the years, however, for favoring certain kinds of schools and overemphasizing standardized testing scores, which have historically favored wealthier districts. Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overemphasize

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overemphasize was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Overemphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overemphasize. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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