to overemphasize

Examples

• All

• They tend to overemphasize their own limitations.

• The role of STM in the development of a nation cannot be overemphasized.

  Academic text (2008)

• However, it is a mistake to overemphasize the importance of contracts.

  Academic text (1990)

• Most organizations tend to overemphasize performance results above leadership capacity.

  What Now? with Trevor Noah

• The importance of continuing to provide effective training in foundation areas cannot be overemphasized.

  Academic text (2000)

• If the consultee overemphasizes cultural differences, other information relevant to the case may be overlooked.

  Academic text (2000)

• However, students tended to overemphasize their weaknesses in these four areas relative to employers' perceptions.

  Academic text (2011)

• The importance of exercising extreme caution cannot be overemphasized, given the fact that potential criminal liability is involved.

  Academic text (1995)

• The value of descriptive epidemiology, extensive environmental investigation, and the hypothesis-generation phase cannot be overemphasized.

  Academic text (2012)

• Many teachers tend to overemphasize exam scores instead of focusing on overall student learning.

Synonyms

E

to exaggerate

vsto overemphasize

258 3.1

To say something is larger, better, or worse than it really is

focuses on giving undue importance rather than changing size or degree

O

to overstate

vsto overemphasize

70 4.2

Say something is bigger or more important than it really is

gives extra importance or attention rather than merely enlarging descriptions

O

to overdo

vsto overemphasize

58 3.6

Do something too much, more than needed

gives undue attention rather than merely doing actions to excess

I

to inflate

vsto overemphasize

47 4.2

To make something seem more important or bigger than it really is

places excessive attention on something rather than simply increasing perceived impressiveness

M

to magnify

vsto overemphasize

34 4.6

To make something seem more important or serious than it really is

gives too much attention rather than only increasing perceived seriousness

E

to expand

vsto overemphasize

20 3.4

To make something seem larger or more important than it is

gives excessive attention rather than only increasing apparent size

O

to overplay

vsto overemphasize

13 4.6

Make something seem more important or serious than it really is

gives excessive attention but is not limited to dramatizing seriousness

A

to amplify

vsto overemphasize

9 5.6

To make something seem bigger or more important than it really is

gives undue attention rather than merely increasing perceived magnitude

P

to play up

vsto overemphasize

9 4.3

Make something seem more important or impressive than it is

gives undue attention generally rather than just making it more noticeable

A

to aggrandize

vsto overemphasize

• Formal

5 9.5

To make something seem more important by adding details or exaggerating

gives too much attention rather than mainly boosting status via detail

O

to overhype

vsto overemphasize

4 5.8

Praise something more than it really deserves

gives disproportionate attention rather than mainly using praise or promotion

O

to overdramatize

vsto overemphasize

3 6.6

Describe something as more serious or emotional than it really is

gives excessive attention generally rather than only heightening drama

O

to overstress

vsto overemphasize

1 5.8

To give something too much importance

gives too much importance or attention more generally rather than formal priority

O

to overinflate

vsto overemphasize

1 5.1

Make something seem much bigger or more important than it is

gives undue attention or importance rather than only inflating size or value

O

to overblow

vsto overemphasize

1 5.9

To make something seem more important or serious than it is

gives undue attention rather than simply exaggerating importance

O

to overweight

vsto overemphasize

1 6.7

Give too much importance to something when judging

gives extra importance overall rather than only adding weight in evaluation

O

to overread

vsto overemphasize

1 8.2

To see something as having more meaning than it really has

gives too much importance rather than overreading meaning or symbolism

O

to overexaggerate

vsto overemphasize

1 5.4

To make something seem much worse or bigger than it is

adds undue importance or attention rather than pushing extremes of truth

H

to hyperbolize

vsto overemphasize

• US

1 7.9

To make something seem much bigger or more important than it really is

places excess attention on something rather than using rhetorical extremes

O

to overindex on

vsto overemphasize

• Jargon

8.9

To pay too much attention to one thing and ignore others

gives too much attention more broadly rather than centring on one factor

O

to overdraw

vsto overemphasize

6.6

Describe something as more important or impressive than it really is

gives extra importance or attention rather than only overstating drama

O

to overegg the pudding

vsto overemphasize

• UK

9.9

To add too many details and ruin something

gives too much attention rather than simply overdecorating or adding detail

S

to substantialize

vsto overemphasize

9.1

To make an idea or claim seem more important

gives undue attention rather than simply making it feel more substantial

Antonyms

U

to underemphasize

1 6.7

To give too little attention to something

How Emphatic

to overemphasize

8 5.5

to emphasize

• US

397 3.7

to mention

∞ 1.0

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology