1
as in overemphasizing
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in underplaying
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overplaying
Verb
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Still, experts warn that there is such a thing as overemphasizing the data and getting bogged down by less-than-optimal scores.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Jevons wasn’t overdoing it.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Fortunately, there’s little danger of overdoing it on vitamin D from food alone.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The data comes as Japan grapples with the fallout from the Iran war, with the country releasing oil stockpiles and enacting fuel subsidies to stave off the worst of the energy shock from the closed Strait of Hormuz.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
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In reality however — and sadly — this structure gave way to constant battles and micromanagement, often preventing the mayor from improving the system and enacting any real change.—
Dennis Walcott,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bosco’s attorneys argue Shaw was exaggerating the situation.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
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One expert, however, testified for prosecutors that the defendant was malingering, or exaggerating his psychiatric issues and was not legally insane at the time.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mia is really acting out her character and has butt pads so lumpy that Michelle Visage got up off her couch to come over to the Hamptons to yell at her.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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Reports from those calls reveal a spectrum of youth behaviors, from hallway bullying to acting out because of problems at home.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, overstating job requirements carries its own risks.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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The episode’s biggest error is overstating human performance compared to technological outcomes.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In addition to recentering the story, the new show shies away from violence on screen, so as to avoid sensationalizing Gacy.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
13 Nov. 2025
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Notoriety trailed Woodhull through her life, but, rather than sensationalizing her scandals, Collinsworth highlights Woodhull’s flair for reinvention, and her drive to set the terms by which she would be remembered.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That said, a fasting-mimicking diet can be extreme and isn’t for everyone, so make sure to talk to your health care provider before attempting it on your own.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2026
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But each type of fish has its own specific needs and requires mimicking their open ocean environment in a small 15-gallon tank.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Overplaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overplaying. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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