Word
overreaction
Phoneticsover·re·ac·tion
US/ˈoʊvɝɹiˌækʃən/
UK/ˌəʊvəɹɪˈækʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a response that is much stronger or more extreme than the situation actually deserves. You use this when someone gets too angry or worried about something small.
n. a response that is disproportionately intense or excessive relative to the stimulus or event that triggered it. Often implies a lack of emotional control or an irrational assessment of risk.
Examples
“His shouting at the waiter was a total overreaction.”
“The manager's decision to fire the employee over a minor mistake was seen as an overreaction by the board.”
“While the initial security breach was concerning, the subsequent lockdown of the entire campus was widely criticized as an overreaction that unnecessarily disrupted the academic calendar.”
Examples
simple
“His shouting at the waiter was a total overreaction.”
contextual
“The manager's decision to fire the employee over a minor mistake was seen as an overreaction by the board.”
complex
“While the initial security breach was concerning, the subsequent lockdown of the entire campus was widely criticized as an overreaction that unnecessarily disrupted the academic calendar.”
Real-World Examples
“It might feel like an overreaction: the WHO deals with thousands of potential disease signals worldwide every month .” Etymology
From over- + reaction.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/overreaction