overemphasize

overemphasize
[[t]o͟ʊvəre̱mfəsaɪz[/t]]
overemphasizes, overemphasizing, overemphasized
(in BRIT, also use overemphasise)
1) VERB If you say that someone overemphasizes something, you mean that they give it more importance than it deserves or than you consider appropriate.

[be V-ed] In the public discussion of nuclear policies, technology has usually been overemphasized and morality neglected...

[V n] Democrats will complain he overemphasizes punishment at the expense of prevention and treatment.

2) VERB: with brd-neg (emphasis) If you say that something cannot be overemphasized, you are emphasizing that you think it is very important.

[be V-ed] The importance of education cannot be overemphasised...

[V n] I can't overemphasize the cleanliness of this place.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • overemphasize — overemphasize, over emphasize over emphasizev. t. to emphasize excessively; to place excessive emphasis on. Syn: overemphasize, emphasise, overstress. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overemphasize — (Amer.) ,o·ver em·pha·size || ‚əʊvÉ™(r) emfÉ™saɪz v. put excessive emphasis on, stress too much (also overemphasise) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • overemphasize — (also overemphasise) ► VERB ▪ place excessive emphasis on. DERIVATIVES overemphasis noun …   English terms dictionary

  • overemphasize — [spelling only] …   English World dictionary

  • overemphasize — UK [ˌəʊvərˈemfəˌsaɪz] / US [ˌoʊvərˈemfəˌsaɪz] verb [transitive] Word forms overemphasize : present tense I/you/we/they overemphasize he/she/it overemphasizes present participle overemphasizing past tense overemphasized past participle… …   English dictionary

  • overemphasize — o|ver|em|pha|size [ ,ouvər emfə,saız ] verb transitive to treat something as more important than it really is: someone cannot overemphasize something (=it is extremely important): We cannot overemphasize how damaging these results are to our… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • overemphasize — verb Overemphasize is used with these nouns as the object: ↑importance …   Collocations dictionary

  • overemphasize — verb place special or excessive emphasis on (Freq. 2) I cannot overemphasize the importance of this book • Syn: ↑overemphasise, ↑overstress • Hypernyms: ↑overstate, ↑exaggerate, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • overemphasize — /oh veuhr em feuh suyz /, v., overemphasized, overemphasizing. v.t. 1. to emphasize excessively. v.i. 2. to use excessive emphasis. Also, esp. Brit., overemphasise. [1900 05; OVER + EMPHASIZE] * * * …   Universalium

  • overemphasize — verb To place too much emphasis on; to overstate the importance of …   Wiktionary

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