overinflate

verb

over·​in·​flate ˌō-vər-in-ˈflāt How to pronounce overinflate (audio)
overinflated; overinflating

transitive verb

: to inflate (something) too much
overinflate a car's tires
overinflated adjective
overinflated prices
an overinflated ego
Note how the overinflated tire bulges in the center, pulling the edges of the tire away from the road. Martin W. Stockel et al.

Examples of overinflate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Depressurization would also explain why the animals’ stomachs were pushed up into their mouths and why some had overinflated swim bladders. Chris Baraniuk, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2023 Its most triumphant melodic gestures (especially those that buoy its spectacular final movement) are routinely overinflated like parade floats. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 As overinflated as the notion always was, the mere fact that former Chief Executive Jack Dorsey and the previous Twitter regime sought to embrace the idea stands in stark contrast to Musk’s approach. Brian Merchant, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023 This series has been closer than the final score indicates, making the spread overinflated. Tanner McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023 In that game, LSU shot only 30.2% from the field and was 1-for-12 from 3-point range, prompting Mulkey to field a question in a news conference about whether the basketballs seemed overinflated or if there was something wrong with the rubber. Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 1 Apr. 2023 The company, like GameStop, has been seen as a meme stock, one thats price was impacted by the sentiments of its army of retail investors, as well as by short sellers who believe that its shares are overinflated. Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Feb. 2023 But an episodic story involving 13 members of the two groups; a domineering producer (Jully Lee) who’s also an ex-star; an aggressive documentary team (Aubie Merrylees and Major Curda) and the origin tale of a new star, Luna’s MwE, overinflate the narrative. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2022 If yeast fermentation happens too rapidly or continues for too long, gas bubbles can overinflate and burst, causing our dough to collapse (3). Mai Nguyen, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2015

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overinflate was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near overinflate

Cite this Entry

“Overinflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overinflate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!