Overreact

usgb/ˌəʊvəriˈækt/
verb

To respond to a situation more dramatically or seriously than it is necessary.

She just said that you're slightly overweight. Don't overreact by going on an extreme diet.
Visual representation of "overreact" - To respond to a situation more dramatically or seriously than it is necessary

Often appears as...

  • overreact to something
  • overreact by doing something
Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "overreact"
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Emotional Intensity

Used when someone shows strong emotions that don't match the seriousness of the event.

Illustration for Emotional Intensity
Calm down, you're overreacting; it's just a tiny scratch on your car.
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Context Matters

The word is often used when giving feedback on someone's behavior in a specific situation.

Illustration for Context Matters
When I saw him overreact to the playful teasing, I knew he was having a bad day.
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Subjective Perception

Whether an action is an overreaction may depend on personal viewpoints.

Illustration for Subjective Perception
She thinks I overreacted to the news, but it's really important to me.
Visual representation of the word "Overreact"

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