1
as in to overemphasize
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Recent Examples of overplay
Did the Nexstar and Sinclair station groups overplay their hands by aggressively taking on Disney this week?
—
Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
The last time Newcastle was in the Champions League two seasons ago, the number of injuries was so high that even those who were fit were overplayed.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
While there are risks for Democrats to overplay their hand in several blue states, members of the party warn there’s risk for their GOP counterparts in red states just the same.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
While Newsom’s posts are undoubtedly popular, political strategists like Ryan White warn Newsom could be overplaying his hand.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
The last time Newcastle was in the Champions League two seasons ago, the number of injuries was so high that even those who were fit were overplayed.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
While there are risks for Democrats to overplay their hand in several blue states, members of the party warn there’s risk for their GOP counterparts in red states just the same.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 7 Sep. 2025
While Newsom’s posts are undoubtedly popular, political strategists like Ryan White warn Newsom could be overplaying his hand.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplay
Verb
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Leaders often overemphasize vision while neglecting those details.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Last year, Vancouver overemphasized size and physicality when building its second and third pairs, which led to a bottom four that was slow, lacked puck-moving skills, and was often hemmed in defensively.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China rejects this view and has blasted Taipei for underplaying the role of Chinese Communists in defeating Imperial Japan.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
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Bader gives a sharp, subtle performance, underplaying in scenes where even an experienced actor might chomp down.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kittle, rather than overdo it his first game back, could platoon with Jake Tonges.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
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To substitute sour cream for buttermilk, simply thin the sour cream to a thick but pourable consistency using milk or water (don't overdo it).—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2025
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There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation.—
Mark Kennedy,
Boston Herald,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the series, Gacy enjoyed talking about many of his accomplishments and exaggerating some of his stories.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Critics have also said that political portrayals of Antifa as a unified or centrally directed domestic terror group exaggerate its organization and influence.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In July, Louisiana enacted a similar drone law that gives law enforcement the authority to intercept and disable unauthorized drones that pose a public safety threat, with penalties up to a $5,000 fine or one year in jail.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, two states, Arizona and Hawaii, observe permanent standard time; however, 19 states have enacted legislation that would enact year-round daylight saving time if Congress were to allow such a change.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some argue that the centrality of conflict and aggression in human evolutionary history is overstated and even misconstrued.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
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Colin Murphy, co-director of UC Davis’ Energy Futures Research Program at the Institute of Transportation Studies, said that may be overstated.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In order to break free of those constraints, Hedda acts out and becomes an architect of destruction.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Kinahans seemed to be acting out of pure rage.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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