overemphasize — to give excessive importance or prominence to something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to give excessive importance or prominence to something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌoʊvərˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/
Example Sentences
- My mom overemphasizes eating vegetables so much that she hides them in my birthday cake.
- Teachers shouldn't overemphasize memorization at the expense of critical thinking.
- He overemphasizes his achievements so much that people avoid him at parties.
overemphasize
VERB[/ˌoʊvərˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/]
to give excessive importance or prominence to something
to give excessive importance or prominence to something
Don't overemphasize what you analyze—sometimes simple truths help you realize!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Overemphasize is a 20th-century compound formed by combining the prefix 'over-' with 'emphasize'. The verb 'emphasize' derives from Greek 'emphasis' (emphasis, meaning, or force of expression), which entered English through Greek philosophical and rhetorical traditions.
Breakdown
over- (excessively, beyond normal degree) + emphasize (from Greek emphasis, meaning to show forth or give prominence to). The combination creates a verb meaning to stress or highlight something excessively.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom overemphasizes eating vegetables so much that she hides them in my birthday cake.”
“Teachers shouldn't overemphasize memorization at the expense of critical thinking.”
“He overemphasizes his achievements so much that people avoid him at parties.”
“The coach warned us not to overemphasize winning and forget about fair play.”
📚Related Words
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