Synonyms for overdo
Most common
exaggerate overstate overemphasize wear out overtax go overboard overwork
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Exaggerate — to do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to carry too far
exaggerate, overemphasize, overemphasise UK, overstate, stretch, overcharge dated, hyperbolize dated, hyperbolise UK
2. Wear out — to give (someone or something) too much work; to require too much effort or strength of (someone); to use up…
Other
go overboard, overwork, camp it up informal, overcook slang
Definitions
- v. 1
To do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to carry too far.
I overdid the sweets during the holidays and put on some weight.
- v. 2
To give (someone or something) too much work; to require too much effort or strength of (someone); to use up too much of (something).
- v. 3
To do more than (someone); to do (something) to a greater extent.
Related words
- Word family
- overdone
Forms
- Past participle
- overdone
e.g. overdone → exaggerated, overemphasized, overstated, stretched…
Example sentences
- exaggerate She seems to have a tendency to exaggerate things.
- overstate The importance of this topic is hard to overstate.
- overemphasize It is impossible to overemphasize its importance.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| overdo | rising | |
| exaggerate | steady | |
| overstate | rising | |
| overemphasize | falling | |
| overtax | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- excel2
- 7 letters
- stretch1, fatigue2, exhaust2, surpass2, overtax3
- 8 letters
- overwork3, overcook3, overtask
- 9 letters
- overstate3
- 10 letters
- exaggerate4, overcharge3
- 11 letters
- hyperbolize, hyperbolise
- 13 letters
- overemphasize5, overemphasise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (excel2 = 2 syllables).