overdirect

verb

over·​di·​rect ˌō-vər-də-ˈrekt 

-dī-

overdirected; overdirecting

transitive + intransitive

: to direct the activities, performance, or course of (someone or something) in an excessive or overbearing manner

The manager is overdirecting the project.

Avoid overdirecting the interview.

I find that you make an actor terribly anxious when you overdirect him.

—Sydney Pollack

You don't want to be condescending to the audience by overdirecting their attention but by the same token you have to tell the story.

—Clint Eastwood

a director with a tendency to overdirect

We parents are overprotecting, overdirecting and doing a lot of hand-holding …

—Julie Lythcott-Haims

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above