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to overstate

to overstate

70 4.2
Say something is bigger or more important than it really is
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈsteɪt/
translation icon : exagerar
  • Many politicians overstate their achievements to gain support.
  • difficult to overstate
  • overstate the importance
  • overstate the impact

Well, I would say don't overstate, don't overstate the issue.

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Examples

  • It's hard to overstate the effect that this change in accuracy has had on us.

  • The role that administrative support plays in the success of co-teaching cannot be overstated.

    Academic text (2012)
  • And that is that it's hard to overstate how safe it feels.

  • It's hard to overstate the massive impact this all has on the world.

  • But it's still impossible to overstate the importance of this, of these ideas today.

  • And I cannot overstate the value of being told that by people all over the world.

  • And I cannot overstate how good that feels.

  • And it is very difficult to overstate the magnitude of this threat.

  • It would be hard to overstate the importance of this research.

  • It's hard to overstate the novelty of Professor Nadazan's study.

Synonyms

to exaggerate
vsto overstate
258 3.1

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

is the general label for this same act of making things seem bigger
to overrate
vsto overstate
50 5.1

To think someone or something is better than they really are

is broader, applying to any claimed size, worth, or importance
to overestimate
vsto overstate
50 4.1

To think something is larger or more important than it really is

is the general act of saying size or importance is greater than true
to inflate
vsto overstate
47 4.2

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

focuses on saying something is bigger or more important generally
to magnify
vsto overstate
34 4.6

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

is the general act of making importance or size seem greater
to expand
vsto overstate
20 3.4

To make something seem larger or more important than it is

is the neutral verb for saying things are bigger or more important
to overplay
vsto overstate
13 4.6

Make something seem more important or serious than it really is

is the neutral term for overstating rather than stressing drama or effect
to amplify
vsto overstate
9 5.6

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

is the standard way to describe things as more important than true
to play up
vsto overstate
9 4.3

Make something seem more important or impressive than it is

is the general act of describing something as larger or more important
to overemphasize
vsto overstate
8 5.5

Treat something as more important than it should be

is the overall term for stating something as more important than reality
to oversell
vsto overstate
7 4.9

Make something seem better than it really is

is the general description of saying things are larger or better
to aggrandize
vsto overstate
  • Formal
5 9.5

To make something seem more important by adding details or exaggerating

is the plain term for describing things as bigger or more important
to blow up
vsto overstate
4 3.7

To make something seem more important or bigger than it is

is the standard expression for saying something is larger or more important
to overhype
vsto overstate
4 5.8

Praise something more than it really deserves

covers general overdescription, not only promotional or marketing praise
to make a mountain out of a molehill
vsto overstate
  • Informal
3 6.4

Treat a small problem as if it were very serious

is the overall description for increasing perceived size or importance
to overdramatize
vsto overstate
3 6.6

Describe something as more serious or emotional than it really is

is the wider term for saying things are larger, better, or more important
to make a big thing out of
vsto overstate
  • Informal
2 5.8

Treat something as more important or serious than it is

is the general word for making things seem larger or more important
to overinflate
vsto overstate
1 5.1

Make something seem much bigger or more important than it is

is the broad act of describing things as larger or more important
to overblow
vsto overstate
1 5.9

To make something seem more important or serious than it is

is the broad term for saying things are more important than they are
to make a meal of
vsto overstate
  • Informal
1 8.3

Act as if something is much more difficult or important than it is

is the broad act of presenting things as larger or more serious
to overread
vsto overstate
1 8.2

To see something as having more meaning than it really has

focuses on stating larger size or importance rather than overinterpreting meaning
to hyperbolize
vsto overstate
  • US
1 7.9

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

is the common term for overstating size, value, or importance
to overexaggerate
vsto overstate
1 5.4

To make something seem much worse or bigger than it is

is the standard term for saying things are larger or more important
to overtell
vsto overstate
7.1

To make a story sound more exciting or important than it really is

is the general act of describing things as larger or more noteworthy
to overdraw
vsto overstate
6.6

Describe something as more important or impressive than it really is

is the overall term for increasing perceived importance or size

Antonyms

18 5.2

To make something seem smaller or less important than it really is

How Exaggerated

to overstate
70 4.2
to exaggerate
258 3.1
to state
1.6
to understate
18 5.2

Surface Forms

overstate infinitive
overstated past
overstated past participle
overstating present participle
overstates third person singular

Morphology

overstate = state (transparent) = over + state

The prefix 'over-' clearly indicates an exaggeration of the action 'state'.

Etymology

Overstate is built from over- meaning 'too much' and state meaning 'say' or 'set out', so it literally means to 'say too much'. That's why to overstate something is to describe it as bigger, better, or more important than it really is.