overstate

verb

over·​state ˌō-vər-ˈstāt How to pronounce overstate (audio)
overstated; overstating; overstates

transitive verb

: to state in too strong terms : exaggerate
overstated his qualifications
overstatement noun

Examples of overstate in a Sentence

It would be overstating the case to say that it was a matter of life or death. it appears you've somewhat overstated your computer skills, if you can't find the “on” button!
Recent Examples on the Web The polls were correct that Joe Biden would win, but 93 percent of them overstated his lead. Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024 That has added some intrigue to the race in its last few weeks, though analysts are cautious not to overstate their ratings. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024 Nearly nine in 10 polls overstated Clinton's support among voters that year, according to a Pew analysis done post hoc. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 The state is still grappling with the storm’s aftereffects and searching for missing people, but the Facebook post vastly overstates the loss of life, according to North Carolina officials. Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overstate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overstate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overstate was in 1792

Dictionary Entries Near overstate

Cite this Entry

“Overstate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overstate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

overstate

verb
over·​state -ˈstāt How to pronounce overstate (audio)
: to state in too strong terms : exaggerate
overstatement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on overstate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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