overexplain
verb
over·ex·plain
ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsplān 
overexplained; overexplaining
: to explain (something) to an excessive degree
The stories tended to be as simple as a good children's picture-book, so that nothing needed to be overexplained.—
Noel Murray
Noel MurrayStudents are confused about the instructions: … Repeat … the rules to clarify but do not overexplain.—Katrina Schwartz
Katrina SchwartzExamples of overexplain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The final thing Heels’ second episode does solidify, though, is that in spite of the elephantine pressure to overexplain most of its characterization, there are the lovely little beats that arrive first.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2021
What is particularly powerful is that the film does not feel the need to overexplain Monica.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Allow Danielle Young to overexplain.
—Admin, Essence, 18 Oct. 2021
And don’t feel pressured to overexplain.
—Megan Greenwell, Wired, 17 Mar. 2021
The other women in my class at Hammerstone talk about this, too — having fathers or spouses who wouldn’t teach them or who would just do it for them, or feeling frustrated when men overexplain small details.
—Kerry Sheridan, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2022
But this is a production that never passes up an opportunity to overexplain.
—Vulture, 25 Apr. 2022
Throughout the course of the book, the characters use a variety of Yiddish terms and phrases, which Lamb is careful not to overexplain — a deliberate decision on their part.
—Maya Homan, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Dec. 2022
Yes, Old has plenty of the clunky dialogue that defines Shyamalan’s work—his characters often can’t help but overexplain what’s going on around them.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 July 2021
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2021
What is particularly powerful is that the film does not feel the need to overexplain Monica.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Allow Danielle Young to overexplain.
—Admin, Essence, 18 Oct. 2021
And don’t feel pressured to overexplain.
—Megan Greenwell, Wired, 17 Mar. 2021
The other women in my class at Hammerstone talk about this, too — having fathers or spouses who wouldn’t teach them or who would just do it for them, or feeling frustrated when men overexplain small details.
—Kerry Sheridan, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2022
But this is a production that never passes up an opportunity to overexplain.
—Vulture, 25 Apr. 2022
Throughout the course of the book, the characters use a variety of Yiddish terms and phrases, which Lamb is careful not to overexplain — a deliberate decision on their part.
—Maya Homan, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Dec. 2022
Yes, Old has plenty of the clunky dialogue that defines Shyamalan’s work—his characters often can’t help but overexplain what’s going on around them.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 July 2021
Dictionary Entries Near overexplain
Cite this Entry
“Overexplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overexplain. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share