overblown

1 of 2

adjective (1)

over·​blown ˌō-vər-ˈblōn 

: past the prime of bloom

overblown roses

overblown

2 of 2

adjective (2)

1

: excessively large in girth : portly

2

: inflated

overblown claims

overblown rhetoric

also : pretentious

Synonyms

Adjective (2)

• bloated
• exaggerated
• hyperbolized
• inflated
• outsize
• outsized
• overdrawn
• overweening

Examples of overblown in a Sentence

Adjective (2)

overblown predictions of financial calamity after the company had one bad quarter

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Faculty and administration should undertake aggressive social norming campaigns that highlight the fact that students want to discuss controversial topics and that fears of shunning and shaming are overblown. —Manu Meel, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

But London Business School professor Julian Birkinshaw says that story of disruption and destruction is overblown. —Harvard Business Review, 4 Dec. 2024

Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute and former chief economist at the Department of Labor, says fears over automation and the risks posed by AI are overblown. —Hugh Cameron, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Nvidia’s quarterly results were much better than expected, and the whole overheating Blackwell chips thing was overblown, says the company. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

blow entry 3

Adjective (2)

blow entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1