1
as in to overemphasize
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Recent Examples of overplay
But, while never overplaying it, Simkins uses dry wit to gently undercut his character’s routine pronouncements.
—
David Benedict, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
While Mikell Sapp overplays Blue’s wild-eyed torment a bit too much, he’s leavened admirably by Lester Purry’s peacemaking pianist, Corn.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 14 Feb. 2025
Yet all this speaks to the risk the incoming Trump administration might overplay its hand on China.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Sidenote: Some of us will overplay conversations, maybe because of our attachment to control and drama.
—Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
David Benedict, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
While Mikell Sapp overplays Blue’s wild-eyed torment a bit too much, he’s leavened admirably by Lester Purry’s peacemaking pianist, Corn.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 14 Feb. 2025
Yet all this speaks to the risk the incoming Trump administration might overplay its hand on China.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Sidenote: Some of us will overplay conversations, maybe because of our attachment to control and drama.
—Hylke Faber, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplay
Verb
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Still, whereas poverty has clearly contributed to Boko Haram’s rise, government and civil society actors should avoid overemphasizing its role.—
Michael W. Baca,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Dec. 2016
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The new council majority has argued that the prior group overemphasized bike transportation, as opposed to vehicles, and note that vehicles are the way that most people get around town.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Some companies overstate the benefits while underplaying the hazards.—
Aimee Pugh Bernard,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
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Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.—
Hylke Faber,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Virgin doesn’t do buffets, and all restaurants (which are included in the fare) offered alcohol pairings with low-ABV or non-alcoholic options, giving me a way to enjoy the flavors without overdoing it.—
Josh Rivera,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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Disinfect only when necessary Don’t overdo it with bleach and other strong disinfectants.—
Matt Fuchs,
TIME,
21 Feb. 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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Distorted and exaggerated by Weegee’s hand—with grins set in a chilling rictus, or eyes and noses spread wide and pancaked—these idols became monsters.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
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Moral panics are created when politicians exaggerate a public concern to manipulate real fears people may have.—
Brittany Friedman,
The Conversation,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Drouin fears what will happen to the lobster industry if the trade dispute persists and Canada enacts a retaliatory tariff on lobsters.—
Dee-Ann Durbin and Sally Ho,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
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Tariffs on Canada and Mexico were delayed for a month, but Trump did enact a new 10% across-the-board tariff on Chinese products.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There is reason to believe, however, that the economic benefits of golden visas programs are overstated.—
Madeline Fitzgerald,
Quartz,
3 Mar. 2025
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However, the report suggests those hardships were overstated as their parent companies and affiliates were raking in billions.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition (March 25) takes a wary view of its own contents, which span half a millennium, arguing that the West acted out its daydreams of a docile Orient one cup-and-saucer at a time.—
Shauna Lyon,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
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The Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk does not officially lead but has acted out his objectives, has been orchestrating a campaign to drastically cut the federal workforce and budget.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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