To overemphasize or exaggerate something, often a particular quality, emotion, or action, beyond its appropriate or reasonable extent. It can manifest as a performance that is too dramatic, a description that is too flowery, or a reliance on something to the point of detriment. The term suggests a lack of subtlety or restraint, and a tendency to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior or expression. It implies a potential loss of credibility or effectiveness due to the excessive nature of the action. This can happen in performance, social situations, or even in the presentation of an argument.
Overplays meaning with examples
- The actor overplays the villain's role, constantly contorting his face and growling, making the character seem more cartoonish than menacing, reducing the story's overall tension. His exaggerated gestures and predictable reactions undercut the nuance of the role and damage audience immersion, failing the essence of the plot.
- In her presentation, she overplays her personal connections to the success of the project, constantly mentioning influential names, rather than focusing on the factual data, undermining the information shared in the presentation, losing the credibility of the audience.
- The novelist overplays the romance, using clichéd language and dramatic declarations, exhausting the reader and distracting from other more compelling storylines. The heavy-handed romance, at the expense of other themes, creates a predictable outcome, and weakens the impact of the story.
- The politician often overplays his patriotism, draping himself in flags and making excessively nationalistic pronouncements, which alienates some constituents and undermines the sincerity of his message. His actions do not serve the greater good, losing his chance to bring about change.