Thesaurus results for OVERACT

overact

verb

Definition of overact

as in to underplay

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of overact Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes. — Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 His presence is fresh, empathetic, often hypnotic, and never overacted. — Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025 One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for overact

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overact

Verb

On the other hand, its artistic approach and wider story arc underplay the horror of WW1 combat.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
In a lot of ways, Abrams’ underplay show at the storied club, billed as a free evening with the star, was more than just a celebration of her new album Daughter From Hell or practice for her upcoming tour.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026

Definition of underplay

Verb

Still, privately, government officials and business leaders told Semafor that South Africa would not overplay its hand by making any attempt to withhold access to these metals; PGMs make up more than a third of its exports to the US.

— Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
The brothers pepper in POV shots of the climbers to literally put the audience in their shoes, but don’t overplay their hand, maintaining palpable reality even when the challenges mount to comical levels.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of overplay

Verb

Likewise, Duong used her cameras to create a safe space for her family to act out past memories to, at long last, talk about what each means to one another, good and bad.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Some of the stories are just spoken matter-of-factly, while others are acted out with Jaku doing all the voices.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of act out

Verb

OpenAI denied intentionally imitating Johansson’s voice and later withdrew the feature.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Then-Princess Elizabeth struggled to pronounce her own name as a toddler, and her grandfather, King George V, reportedly imitated her pronunciation.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of imitate

Verb

The case has been examined in numerous documentaries and TV specials over the decades, but Netflix’s forthcoming project will dramatize the Ramsey family and the investigation surrounding JonBenét’s death.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
At any rate, Greengrass finally decided to dramatize the Peasants’ Revolt on the second day of the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of dramatize

Verb

Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, is a synthetic peptide designed to mimic GLP-1, which helps regulate satiety.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
The future for national cinema is bleak under a potential Flávio Bolsonaro presidency, with the candidate vowing to mimic virtually all of his father’s policies—and tighten some even further.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of mimic

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“Overact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overact. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of overact

verb

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