oversimplify
verb
over·sim·pli·fy
ˌō-vər-ˈsim-plə-ˌfī 
oversimplified; oversimplifying; oversimplifies
: to simplify to such an extent as to bring about distortion, misunderstanding, or error
: to engage in undue or extreme simplification
Examples of oversimplify in a Sentence
The article oversimplifies the problem.
She tends to oversimplify things.
We must resist the temptation to oversimplify.
Recent Examples on the Web
African music is often oversimplified, with the diverse array of sounds being lumped into a single genre solely because the artist is African.
—
Ime Ekpo, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Such claims oversimplify the sources of inflation and insult the intelligence of voters.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2024
While often cited by universities as a measure of success, some school rankings have been criticized for oversimplifying a school’s role.
—Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2024
Baldoni and Hall handle Lily and everyone around her with empathy, downplaying unpleasantness or oversimplifying story elements ultimately to mitigate risk and protect viewers — with the opportunity to dig deeper in a potential sequel.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oversimplify 
Ime Ekpo, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Such claims oversimplify the sources of inflation and insult the intelligence of voters.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2024
While often cited by universities as a measure of success, some school rankings have been criticized for oversimplifying a school’s role.
—Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2024
Baldoni and Hall handle Lily and everyone around her with empathy, downplaying unpleasantness or oversimplifying story elements ultimately to mitigate risk and protect viewers — with the opportunity to dig deeper in a potential sequel.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oversimplify
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oversimplify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near oversimplify
Cite this Entry
“Oversimplify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversimplify. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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oversimplify
verb
over·sim·pli·fy
ˌō-vər-ˈsim-plə-ˌfī
: to simplify something so much that the result is confusing, misleading, or wrong
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