Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense overemphasizes, present participle overemphasizing, past tense, past participle overemphasizedregional note: in BRIT, also use overemphasise
1. verb
If you say that someone overemphasizes something, you mean that they give it more importance than it deserves or than you consider appropriate.
Sometimes diversity and richness of detail are overemphasized. [beVERB-ed]
Of particular importance was Marx's tendency to overemphasize economic conflict. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If you say that something cannotbe overemphasized, you are emphasizing that you think it is very important.
[emphasis]
The importance of education cannot be overemphasised. [beVERB-ed]
I can't overemphasize the cleanliness of this place. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of overemphasize
overemphasize in British English
or overemphasise (ˌəʊvərˈɛmfəˌsaɪz)
verb(transitive)
to give excessive emphasis or prominence to (something)
Derived forms
overemphasis (ˌoverˈemphasis)
noun
Synonyms of 'overemphasize'
exaggerate, magnify, inflate, overdo
More Synonyms of overemphasize
(verb)
Definition
to give (something) more importance than is necessary or appropriate
Many schools overemphasize the importance of spelling.
Synonyms
exaggerate
He tends to exaggerate the importance of his job.
magnify
spend their time magnifying ridiculous details
inflate
Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.
overdo
He overdid his usually quite funny vitriol.
amplify
overstate
The importance of health education cannot be overstated.
make too much of
belabour
make a big thing of (informal)
blow up out of all proportion
overstress
overdramatize
make a production (out) of (informal)
lay too much stress on
make a federal case of (US, informal)
hyperbolize
Opposites
play down
,
minimize
,
understate
,
belittle
,
underrate
,
make light of
,
downplay
,
underplay
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inflate
Definition
to give an impression of greater importance than is justified
Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.
Synonyms
exaggerate,
embroider,
embellish,
emphasize,
enlarge,
magnify,
overdo,
amplify,
exalt,
overstate,
overestimate,
overemphasize,
blow out of all proportion,
aggrandize,
hyperbolize
in the sense of magnify
Definition
to make something seem more important than it really is