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Synonyms

overstate

American  
[oh-ver-stayt] / ˌoʊ vərˈsteɪt /

verb (used with object)

  • overstates,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • overstated,
    past participle,  past
  • overstating
    present participle
  1. to state too strongly; exaggerate.

    to overstate one's position in a controversy.

    Synonyms:
    magnify, embroider, overstress

overstate British  
/ ˌəʊvəˈsteɪt /

verb

  1. (tr) to state too strongly; exaggerate or overemphasize

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of overstate

First recorded in 1630–40; over- + state


Explanation

To overstate is to exaggerate or place too much importance on something. Your parents may overstate the dangers of driving on icy roads to scare you into being extra careful. If you want your brother to help you move some furniture, you might overstate how much your back hurts. And, if you're ready for lunch but your friend is dawdling, you'll be tempted to overstate how cranky you get when you're hungry. More seriously, politicians have been known to overstate the threat of terrorism or other dangers in order to gain support for a bill or a candidate.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing overstate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"It's hard to overstate how dangerous speeding towards RSI is," Wang posted in response to Coxon's resignation, referring to recursive self-improvement, which is a technique where software is designed to continuously teach itself.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

When news of the deal broke, U.S. premium futures fell from $1.17 per pound to 95 cents, about 22 cents of expected relief, though even that may overstate the benefit.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

"It's impossible to overstate the scale of operational change the competition has gone through this season, but we're really happy with where we are and what has been delivered this year," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

"We also can't overstate the importance of the patient population and their involvement in developing therapies and their dedication to understanding their disease."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

“How about gorgon's blood? Can you cure that, or did Bob overstate your talents?”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

He clearly appreciates the value of a fearsome antagonist, though he somewhat overstates the threat Stalin personally posed to Emanuel after the revolution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Of the 130 companies scored, roughly half showed meaningful AI activity by any measure — but even that overstates it.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

The May headline number alone overstates the slowdown in single-family construction, the kind of houses most public builders construct.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

That phrasing wildly overstates the case, perhaps conveying the impression that there is some voter fraud, even an uncomfortable amount, but just not enough to sway an election.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

It also overstates the importance of rare geniuses, such as Watt and Edison.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

"The club's income was hugely overstated by over £830 million."

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Dietrich’s influence on filmmakers, fashion designers and musicians—including Madonna and Lady Gaga—cannot be overstated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Criminal justice policy researchers have found that the proposed economic benefits of prisons to small, rural communities were probably overstated to begin with.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Struyven acknowledges some of the more alarmist calls on oil are probably overstated.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Since Sebond had harnessed faith and reason together, Montaigne’s critique set out to undermine faith by showing that all claims to knowledge are overstated.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

In the mid-1990s, with inflation falling to multidecade lows, he told Congress the consumer-price index, used to calculate Social Security checks and tax brackets, was overstating inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

At the same time, she cautioned against overstating the gender differences.

From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026

Carney said last week that some people were overstating Canada's reliance on the United States and that Washington does not get to dictate the terms of the upcoming trade negotiations.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

In March 2024, Hui was fined $6.5m and banned from China's capital market for life for his company overstating its revenue by $78bn.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026

I doubt that I am overstating the case here: our capacity to understand and manipulate human genomes alters our conception of what it means to be “human.”

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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