overpromise

verb

over·​prom·​ise ˌō-vər-ˈprä-məs 

overpromised; overpromising

transitive + intransitive

: to promise more than is possible or realistic

Political candidates always overpromise or else the electorate won't bother to show up at their rallies.

—Michael Gomez

… received sharp criticism for overpromising and underperforming.

—Industry Week

Then a change in the Facebook algorithm punished click bait, which can tend to overpromise on what it links to. Steep traffic drops followed.

—Jim Rutenberg

To close a deal, bad vendors tend to overpromise features that they claim will be added down the line but never materialize.

—Michael Kan

Examples of overpromise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another central point is to not overpromise on the tech just to satisfy investors or get more customers. —Billee Howard, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Both teams should present a unified front, avoiding overpromising that puts onboarding in a difficult position. —Rachel Lyubovitzky, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

If that’s the case, Musk—who has a history of overpromising—could become the world’s first trillionaire. —Matt Durot, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Lastly, don’t overpromise and underdeliver—especially at a time like this. —Rob Lancit, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above