1
as in to overemphasize
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Recent Examples of overplay
But overplaying concerns about pesticides or additives does little more than discredit the food system writ large and suggest women find other solutions that may not be as feasible, affordable, or even safe.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 10 June 2025
An optimistic view of the confrontation would be that both sides responded with appropriate and measured retaliation without overplaying their hands.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
Schmidt’s one-timer from the top of the right circle cleanly beat Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who overplayed the near post.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Having a semblance of moderated AI regulations and laws that are flexible and not crushing is potentially worth considering, but the inherent nature of any such encumbrances is that they will be overplayed and shut down AI innovation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Erica Sloan, SELF, 10 June 2025
An optimistic view of the confrontation would be that both sides responded with appropriate and measured retaliation without overplaying their hands.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
Schmidt’s one-timer from the top of the right circle cleanly beat Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who overplayed the near post.
—Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025
Having a semblance of moderated AI regulations and laws that are flexible and not crushing is potentially worth considering, but the inherent nature of any such encumbrances is that they will be overplayed and shut down AI innovation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplay
Verb
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But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.—
Kate Ruder,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.—
Kate Ruder,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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None of this is to underplay the value of this agreement to Paramount’s streaming business.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The worst part of this tax is that Illinois Democrats, in their desperation for more revenue, ended up encouraging more casual bettors to overdo it and get into financial trouble.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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But the actor slips into the role flawlessly (with the help of good makeup), never overdoing it and adding a fair amount of gravitas to the constantly shifting scenery.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 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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But the tastefulness of Kogonada’s realization keeps the brazen absurdities of plot masked in sleek understatement rather than gleefully exaggerating them.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
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Blaney isn’t exaggerating — IndyCars are expected to lap Phoenix nearly six seconds faster than their stock-car cousins.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To bridge the gap, a handful of states have enacted orders expanding and protecting access, issuing blanket prescriptions, executive orders and insurance coverage requirements.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
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Treasury yields edged lower Monday, extending recent declines, after the Empire State Manufacturing Index came in far below what Wall Street economists had expected and traders looked ahead to the Federal Reserve enacting an interest rate cut later this week.—
Pia Singh,Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not to overstate things — plenty of people are still watching Colorado.—
Sam Settleman,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Though, Jones may have overstated the Dolphins' caliber just a little.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Blanc specifically acts out moments from John Dickson Carr's The Hollow Man to illustrate the impossibility of the crime.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
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His brittle mum Heather (a heartbreaking and frustrating Shirley Henderson) is barely holding things together as is, and then John starts, well, acting out?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplay. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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