OVERPRAISE Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

overpraise 1 of 2

noun

ˈō-vər-ˌprāz

Definition of overpraise

as in praise

excessive praise the piano instructor believes in encouraging her students but avoids any overpraise that might make them complacent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overpraise

2 of 2

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈprāz

as in to praise

to praise too much proud parents are likely to overpraise their children for their earnest efforts at making handicrafts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 overpraise

Verb

The result is sometimes overpraising, overprotection, and overindulging children, mixing emotional intensity with economic privilege in ways that breed entitlement. — Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 As in the case of that picture, East of Eden is backed up by masterful screen storytelling that can hardly be overpraised and is complicated by no message that can be termed controversial. — Jack Moffitt, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023 Our praise reflex leans toward the superlative in this dank information age, an era when the only artists who transcend the digital noise seem to be the ones whose music gets overpraised on social media for being the most this or the best that. — Chris Richards, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023 Vincent Canby’s review in The New York Times seemed hesitant to overpraise the film, which was based on James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel of the same name. — New York Times, 2 June 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpraise

Noun

Sony revived Resident Evil last month and HBO drew big viewership and critical praise with The Last of Us, just to name a couple of recent success stories.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Posters of Kate Moss photographed by Juergen Teller have been plastered over the city and praise for the exhibition has been handed largely to Enninful.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of praise

Verb

Fine art’s real estate crisis and its wholesale entrenchment in money laundering perhaps commend the political possibilities of unfine modes?

— Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
With very few exceptions, roses were offered to commend male medieval rulers, often ones who had militarily defended Catholicism.

— Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of commend

Noun

Manipulation, escalation, flattery and vindictiveness are not the unavoidable price of sounding natural.

— Puneet Gaur, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Tom Cruise's recent effusive praise for Kate Middleton was not just Hollywood flattery, according to royal experts.

— Ashley Hume , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of flattery

Verb

Mac Haddow of the American Kratom Association has applauded the DEA’s 7-OH ban but has also blamed irresponsible consumers for any deaths caused by natural kratom use.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Bryan’s on-stage statement immediately drew a lot of negative feedback from conservative fans, although there are pockets on the right that have come out against Israel’s actions in Gaza who applauded Bryan.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of applaud

Noun

The singer recently put out her eighth studio album, Popstar, to much critical acclaim and fanfare online, as her day one fans are taking a victory lap on social media.

— Angel Diaz, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
There’s plenty of that to go around, too, beginning with a bizarrely grisly meet-uncute between Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a young novelist with acclaim but no sales to write home about, and slick realtor Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett).

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of acclaim

Verb

Brown said a wild Knicks fan tailed him home to congratulate him on winning the Finals during a bike ride over the offseason.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
The veteran coach congratulated his team for the win and quickly pivoted to yelling about mental mistakes that kept Houston County in the game.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of congratulate

Noun

This adulation is all Fujino needs to take Kyomoto under her wing, and soon the two are inseparable, collaborating on strips where Fujino writes the stories and draws the figures while Kyomoto does the backgrounds.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026
Djokovic will have cheers about as loud as the ones that will be heard for the Americans Shelton and Fritz, the type of adulation that often fizzles before the ultimate prize.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of adulation

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overpowers

overpraise

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

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Synonyms of overpraise

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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