Overblown
adjective
Something described as overblown is inflated, exaggerated, or made to seem larger or more important than it actually is.
The marketing team's promises about the new product turned out to be overblown.
Often appears as...
- overblown hype
- overblown claims
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
In music, an overblown note or sound is one that is played louder or higher than it should be because too much air has been blown into the instrument.
He needs to work on his breath control; his trumpet solos are a bit overblown.
Often appears as...
- overblown trumpet
- overblown note
adjective
Something described as overblown is inflated, exaggerated, or made to seem larger or more important than it actually is.
The marketing team's promises about the new product turned out to be overblown.
Often appears as...
- overblown hype
- overblown claims
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
In music, an overblown note or sound is one that is played louder or higher than it should be because too much air has been blown into the instrument.
He needs to work on his breath control; his trumpet solos are a bit overblown.
Often appears as...
- overblown trumpet
- overblown note
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
It usually implies an unnecessary level of exaggeration, often in a critical tone.
The fears about the new policy were overblown by the media.
Pro Tip 2/3Check the Facts
Question the validity of overblown statements to understand if the reality is less extreme.
Her skills were described as overblown; in reality, she was competent but not extraordinary.
Pro Tip 3/3Marketing Context
Commonly used in marketing to describe promotions that exaggerate benefits.
The overblown advertising campaign promised life-changing results.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
It usually implies an unnecessary level of exaggeration, often in a critical tone.
The fears about the new policy were overblown by the media.
Pro Tip 2/3Check the Facts
Question the validity of overblown statements to understand if the reality is less extreme.
Her skills were described as overblown; in reality, she was competent but not extraordinary.
Pro Tip 3/3Marketing Context
Commonly used in marketing to describe promotions that exaggerate benefits.
The overblown advertising campaign promised life-changing results.
Pro Tip 1/3Often Negative
It usually implies an unnecessary level of exaggeration, often in a critical tone.
The fears about the new policy were overblown by the media.
Pro Tip 2/3Check the Facts
Question the validity of overblown statements to understand if the reality is less extreme.
Her skills were described as overblown; in reality, she was competent but not extraordinary.
Pro Tip 3/3Marketing Context
Commonly used in marketing to describe promotions that exaggerate benefits.
The overblown advertising campaign promised life-changing results.
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Video examples
Nationalism vs....
that political concerns are kind of overblown, that actually, political leaders don't have that much influence in the world, that the real determination of humanity at this point is by science, by invention, by companies,
Video examples
Nationalism vs....
that political concerns are kind of overblown, that actually, political leaders don't have that much influence in the world, that the real determination of humanity at this point is by science, by invention, by companies,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Rodney Crowell
Algerian Musician
Certainly, writing a book was challenging. It took me a long time to learn how to do it. It took me seven years to get a sense of how to wean myself off the process and trickery of songwriting. You realize that giant metaphors work in songs because you have so few words. Standing alone on a page, they threaten to be overblown in a hurry.
Quote examples
Emily Oster
American Economist
I had always been told that you shouldn't clean the litter box when you're pregnant, because of your cat. And I think that is overblown - unless you have, like, three kittens in your house that are living outside and eating raw meat, this shouldn't really be a significant source of concern.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King III
American Activist
African Americans are not going to be fooled by any group supported by industrial polluters. They know climate change is real and that we have to do something about it. Only 3 percent believe concern about climate change is overblown.
Quote examples
Frank Miller
American Artist
In the comic-book world, there tends to be an overblown sense of tradition. Bad habits die hard. There are ways I think the form could work more effectively if we lost the bad habits that were created before we were born.
Quote examples
Rowan Atkinson
English Comedian
In TV, and in particular in commercials, you don't really need to explain very much at all - you just say he's a spy and he's a little bit theatrical and overblown and smug and he's not very good at his job.
Quote examples
Jhonen Vasquez
American Cartoonist
When I'm writing the book I'm laughing at just how overblown the characters seemed. How full of himself he seems. But I didn't get far enough in the series to really drive the joke of it home.
Quote examples
Judge Reinhold
American Actor
I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for being difficult. And rightfully so.
Quote examples
Alex Smith
American Athlete
This is the honest truth: I could absolutely care less on yards per game. I think that's a totally overblown stat.
Quote examples
Giles Deacon
British Designer
People don't necessarily realise that there can be just as much work on a quiet jacket as an overblown gown.
Quote examples
Joe R. Lansdale
American Writer
People in my town were not that into reading, but the overblown way Texans told stories was important.
Quote examples
Rodney Crowell
Algerian Musician
Certainly, writing a book was challenging. It took me a long time to learn how to do it. It took me seven years to get a sense of how to wean myself off the process and trickery of songwriting. You realize that giant metaphors work in songs because you have so few words. Standing alone on a page, they threaten to be overblown in a hurry.
Quote examples
Emily Oster
American Economist
I had always been told that you shouldn't clean the litter box when you're pregnant, because of your cat. And I think that is overblown - unless you have, like, three kittens in your house that are living outside and eating raw meat, this shouldn't really be a significant source of concern.
Quote examples
Martin Luther King III
American Activist
African Americans are not going to be fooled by any group supported by industrial polluters. They know climate change is real and that we have to do something about it. Only 3 percent believe concern about climate change is overblown.
Quote examples
Frank Miller
American Artist
In the comic-book world, there tends to be an overblown sense of tradition. Bad habits die hard. There are ways I think the form could work more effectively if we lost the bad habits that were created before we were born.
Quote examples
Rowan Atkinson
English Comedian
In TV, and in particular in commercials, you don't really need to explain very much at all - you just say he's a spy and he's a little bit theatrical and overblown and smug and he's not very good at his job.
Quote examples
Jhonen Vasquez
American Cartoonist
When I'm writing the book I'm laughing at just how overblown the characters seemed. How full of himself he seems. But I didn't get far enough in the series to really drive the joke of it home.
Quote examples
Judge Reinhold
American Actor
I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for being difficult. And rightfully so.
Quote examples
Alex Smith
American Athlete
This is the honest truth: I could absolutely care less on yards per game. I think that's a totally overblown stat.
Quote examples
Giles Deacon
British Designer
People don't necessarily realise that there can be just as much work on a quiet jacket as an overblown gown.
Quote examples
Joe R. Lansdale
American Writer
People in my town were not that into reading, but the overblown way Texans told stories was important.
Example 1 of 10
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