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Overreaction: meaning, definitions and examples

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overreaction

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈrɛækʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

emotional response

An overreaction is an excessive or disproportionate response to a situation. It often occurs when emotions run high, leading to actions or expressions that are not commensurate with the triggering event. This can manifest in behaviors such as shouting, crying, or other extreme emotional displays. Overreactions can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, as they may escalate situations that could otherwise be resolved calmly.

Synonyms

exaggeration, melodrama

Examples of usage

  • Her overreaction to his comment surprised everyone.
  • He admitted that his anger was an overreaction to the criticism.
  • The team's overreaction to the loss cost them a chance to improve.
  • Many felt that the public's overreaction to the rumor was unjustified.

Translations

Translations of the word "overreaction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exagero

🇮🇳 अधिक प्रतिक्रिया

🇩🇪 Überreaktion

🇮🇩 reaksi berlebihan

🇺🇦 перебільшена реакція

🇵🇱 przesadna reakcja

🇯🇵 過剰反応

🇫🇷 réaction exagérée

🇪🇸 reacción exagerada

🇹🇷 aşırı tepki

🇰🇷 과잉 반응

🇸🇦 رد فعل مفرط

🇨🇿 přehnaná reakce

🇸🇰 prehnaná reakcia

🇨🇳 过度反应

🇸🇮 pretirana reakcija

🇮🇸 ofurðareynsla

🇰🇿 артық реакция

🇬🇪 გააზრება

🇦🇿 həddən artıq reaksiya

🇲🇽 reacción exagerada

Etymology

The term 'overreaction' combines the prefix 'over-' meaning excessive, and 'reaction,' which comes from the Latin 'reactio' (to act back). The concept of overreaction has entered common parlance in the late 20th century, particularly gaining traction in psychology and social discussions. It reflects a modern understanding of emotions, behaviors, and the complexity of human reactions to stressors. The concept emphasizes how individual's subjective interpretations can lead to responses that are not in proportion to stimuli, highlighting both psychological and sociological aspects of human interactions.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,217 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.