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Recent Examples of overact
There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation.
—
Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 13 Dec. 2024
The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024
In regard to overacting, Pacino addresses it on a case-by-case basis: Some movies call for it, like Scarface.
—Chris Stanton, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2024
The performances seems inspired by the over-the-top techniques of actors who tried to do too much when sound finally came to films, but were used to overacting.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
Their turns are driven to cartoonish overacting in great part by the words they’ve been asked to say in English and in angry tones.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Meanwhile, Greenblatt’s playfully mischievous demeanor as Tina often reads as overacting.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
The welcome lack of overacting is evident throughout the show.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
Sukowa seems to have been encouraged to overact, perhaps overcompensating for the film’s general listlessness.
—Pat Padua, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 13 Dec. 2024
The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024
In regard to overacting, Pacino addresses it on a case-by-case basis: Some movies call for it, like Scarface.
—Chris Stanton, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2024
The performances seems inspired by the over-the-top techniques of actors who tried to do too much when sound finally came to films, but were used to overacting.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
Their turns are driven to cartoonish overacting in great part by the words they’ve been asked to say in English and in angry tones.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Meanwhile, Greenblatt’s playfully mischievous demeanor as Tina often reads as overacting.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024
The welcome lack of overacting is evident throughout the show.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024
Sukowa seems to have been encouraged to overact, perhaps overcompensating for the film’s general listlessness.
—Pat Padua, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overact
Verb
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Notice the costs of underplaying the conversation, which many tend to do.—
Hylke Faber,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
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Gonski said that in addition to overstating certifiers’ responsibilities, Follow the Law’s messaging underplays the protections that already exist.—
Phoebe Petrovic,
ProPublica,
30 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Sidenote: Some of us will overplay conversations, maybe because of our attachment to control and drama.—
Hylke Faber,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
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Demko overplayed it and lost his net, but Juulsen collapsed down low to break up Rantanen’s play and save a potential goal.—
Harman Dayal,
The Athletic,
17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At least eight states — California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia — have enacted measures banning or restricting students’ use of cellphones in schools.—
Andrew Demillo,
The Denver Post,
25 Jan. 2025
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According to an analysis by the Guttmacher Institute in June 2024, eight states had enacted or proposed laws to limit access to contraception.—
Grant McLaughlin,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Friends Dog Grooming Car Toy Now for just $7, builders can act out a dog grooming scene with this Lego Friends kit.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
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Children who are anxious may act out, have temper tantrums, or change their sleeping patterns, appetites, behavior, or moods, says Dr. Kumar.—
Tamekia Reece,
Parents,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But in non-biotech emerging industries, many billion-dollar entrepreneurs imitated the product but improved on the strategy.—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia visits remains of his home lost in L.A. fire: 'Life imitating art' Garner indicated that her residence is still standing but that countless friends have lost their houses over the past week.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Today, Margaret would be playacting her own massacre in active shooter drills at school.—
Petula Dvorak,
Washington Post,
1 May 2023
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Trump’s modus, as ever, was to playact; his game has always been improv.—
Joe Klein,
Washington Post,
12 Jan. 2023
Verb
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How The Breakthrough dramatizes the case The Breakthrough is a dramatized retelling of the events surrounding the Linköping murders.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
TIME,
10 Jan. 2025
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Such data dramatize the growing risks of outburst floods, says Irfan Rashid, a climate scientist at Kashmir University.—
ByAthar Parvaiz,
science.org,
2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In my work, there’s always repetition of a single or multiple elements which mimic the process of growth.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Functional movement training goes a step further by focusing on exercises that mimic real-world biomechanics with a series of multi-joint, multi-planar movements to help improve mobility and prevent injuries in daily life.—
Sandra Rose Salathe,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near overact
Cite this Entry
“Overact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overact. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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