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Overreacting: meaning, definitions and examples

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overreacting

 

[ oʊ.vər.rɪˈækt.ɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

emotional response

Overreacting refers to responding to a situation with excessive emotional intensity or drama. It often involves a reaction that is disproportionate to the actual event or issue at hand. This behavior can stem from a variety of factors, including heightened sensitivity or previous experiences.

Synonyms

exaggerate, magnify, overreact, overstate

Examples of usage

  • She tends to overreact when she receives constructive criticism.
  • He overreacted to the minor mistake, making everyone uncomfortable.
  • It's easy to overreact when stressed or overwhelmed.
  • Don't overreact to what others say; it's often not personal.

Translations

Translations of the word "overreacting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reagir de forma exagerada

🇮🇳 अधिक प्रतिक्रिया देना

🇩🇪 überreagieren

🇮🇩 bereaksi berlebihan

🇺🇦 перебільшувати реакцію

🇵🇱 przesadzać z reakcją

🇯🇵 過剰反応する

🇫🇷 réagir de manière excessive

🇪🇸 sobrerreaccionar

🇹🇷 aşırı tepki vermek

🇰🇷 과민 반응하다

🇸🇦 رد فعل مفرط

🇨🇿 přehnaně reagovat

🇸🇰 prehnane reagovať

🇨🇳 过度反应

🇸🇮 prekomerno reagirati

🇮🇸 ofureigja

🇰🇿 артық реакция көрсету

🇬🇪 გადაჭარბებული რეაქცია

🇦🇿 aşırı reaksiya vermək

🇲🇽 sobrerreaccionar

Etymology

The word 'overreacting' is derived from the prefix 'over-', meaning excessively or beyond normal limits, combined with the verb 'react', which comes from the Latin 'reagere' meaning 'to respond'. The construction of the word suggests a response that exceeds the standard or expected reaction. The usage of 'overreact' began to appear more frequently in English in the late 20th century as discussions around emotional intelligence and mental health gained prominence. It reflects a cultural recognition of the nuances in human emotions and the tendency to sometimes blow situations out of proportion, often influenced by personal feelings or anxieties. The rise of social media also contributed to the popularity of the term, as public reactions can become magnified and shared broadly, demonstrating the phenomenon of overreaction on a communal scale.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,309 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.