overemphasis

noun

over·​em·​pha·​sis ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-səs How to pronounce overemphasis (audio)
plural overemphases ˌō-vər-ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz How to pronounce overemphasis (audio)
: an excessive amount or degree of emphasis
F. Scott Fitzgeralds's novels and Eugene O'Neill's plays exposed America's overemphasis on money and success.Mary Beth Norton et al.
… an overemphasis on design at the expense of function.Walt Mossberg

Examples of overemphasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Your Friend the Media is playing its predictable part in the overemphasis on costs, because, why not? Miami Herald, 11 May 2026 The asymmetry in what the archaeological record preserves has almost certainly created a systematic overemphasis on meat in reconstructions of ancestral diets. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The future of psychiatric rehabilitation Despite its effectiveness, many factors limit access to psychiatric rehabilitation, including underfunding, lack of appropriate Medicaid reimbursement, an unprepared workforce and an overemphasis on pharmaceutical treatment. Adrienne Lapidos, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026 An overemphasis on playing a dump-and-chase game suppressed some of his offensive creativity, too. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overemphasis

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overemphasis was in 1858

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Cite this Entry

“Overemphasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overemphasis. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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