overtighten

verb

over·​tight·​en ˌō-vər-ˈtī-tᵊn 

overtightened; overtightening

transitive + intransitive

: to tighten too much : to make (something) too tight or to become too tight

overtighten a screw

Secure the bolts but be sure not to overtighten.

Similarly, do not overtighten your toes or feet, which could cause muscle cramping.

—Lesley Sisterhen McAllister

If you're having heel pain first thing in the morning, sleeping in a night splint can help keep the fascia elongated when it would normally overtighten.

—Matt Hart

Examples of overtighten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In other cases, fatigue or a poor grip can cause someone to inadvertently overtighten. —Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 29 June 2023

Do not overtighten your wristband. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2022

Stocks kicked off the week with big gains after suffering their worst September in two decades as Treasury yields halted a seemingly endless surge, with weak US manufacturing data soothing concern the Federal Reserve will overtighten monetary policy. —Rita Nazareth, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Oct. 2022

The BlackRock team expects major central banks to overtighten policy due to worries about the persistence of core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices. —Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023

At the same time, producer prices rose in November by more than forecast, a sticky inflation reading that could prompt the Fed to overtighten, increasing recession risks. —Peyton Forte, Washington Post, 9 Dec. 2022

That's reassuring news for traders who've been worried that the Fed will overtighten monetary policy in its quest to quash inflation. —Akane Otani, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2022

If using a drill, be careful not to overtighten the screw. —Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2022

Use an open-end or ratchet wrench to tighten the lagscrews, but do not overtighten them. —Neal Barrett, Popular Mechanics, 5 June 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overtighten

• periphyton
• trichophyton
• brighten
• chitin
• frighten
• heighten
• lighten
• phaeton
• tighten
• titan
• triton
• whiten