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Definitions

overestimate

[oh-ver-es-tuh-meyt, oh-ver-es-tuh-mit] / ˌoʊ vərˈɛs təˌmeɪt, ˈoʊ vərˈɛs tə mɪt /
VERB
embroider
Synonyms
STRONGEST
embellish
STRONG
aggrandize amplify color distend dramatize elaborate enhance enlarge expand falsify fudge heighten hyperbolize lie magnify overdo overemphasize overstate pad puff romanticize stretch
WEAK
blow-up build up make federal case make mountain out of molehill overelaborate overembellish play up spread on thick stretch the truth yeast
Antonyms
STRONG
abridge compress condense contract curtail decrease diminish lessen lower reduce shorten shrink simplify
VERB
exaggerate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify distort emphasize fabricate falsify heighten inflate magnify misrepresent overdo overdraw overemphasize
STRONG
boast boost brag caricature color corrupt embroider enlarge exalt expand fudge hike hyperbolize intensify lie misquote pad puff pyramid romance romanticize scam stretch up
WEAK
blow out of proportion build up cook up go to extremes lay it on thick loud talk make too much of misreport pretty up put on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compress contract decrease ignore lessen play down
STRONG
abridge be modest deprecate lower reduce shrink
WEAK
depreciate minimize understate
VERB
inflate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
augment bloat boost enlarge escalate exaggerate expand magnify maximize pad widen
STRONG
aerate aggrandize amplify balloon cram dilate distend exalt pyramid raise spread stretch surcharge
WEAK
beef up build up flesh out puff up pump up swell up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abridge decrease diminish lessen lower play down reduce shrink weaken
STRONG
compress contract debase depress
WEAK
deflate let air out
VERB
magnify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate enhance inflate overstate
STRONG
boost color dramatize embellish embroider fudge overcharge overdo overdraw overemphasize overplay overrate overstress pad pyramid
WEAK
blow up make mountain of molehill puff up
Antonyms
STRONG
simplify
WEAK
decrease diminish lessen miniaturize play down weaken
VERB
miscalculate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
err misconstrue misinterpret misjudge misread misunderstand overrate overvalue underestimate undervalue
STRONG
blow blunder discount disregard miscount overlook stumble underrate
WEAK
drop the ball get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misreckon miss by a mile mix up slip up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
get perceive understand
STRONG
attend pay attention regard respect
WEAK
do correctly figure correctly succeed
VERB
misestimate
Synonyms
STRONG
blow blunder discount disregard err misconstrue miscount misinterpret misjudge misread misunderstand overlook overrate overvalue stumble underestimate underrate undervalue
WEAK
drop the ball get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misreckon miss by a mile mix up slip up
Antonyms
STRONG
attend correct exaggerate get overrate pay attention perceive regard respect understand
VERB
misjudge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
miscalculate misconstrue misunderstand overrate underestimate
STRONG
dogmatize err misapprehend misconceive mistake prejudge presume presuppose stumble suppose underrate
WEAK
bark up wrong tree be misled be overcritical be partial be unfair be wrong come to hasty conclusion drop the ball miscomprehend misconjecture misdeem misreckon miss by a mile misthink put foot in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
get perceive understand
STRONG
comprehend disbelieve
WEAK
figure judge well
VERB
misreckon
Synonyms
WEAK
blow blunder discount disregard drop the ball err get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misconstrue miscount misestimate misinterpret misjudge misread miss by a mile misunderstand mix up overlook overrate overvalue slip up stumble underestimate underrate undervalue
VERB
mistake
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confuse miscalculate misconstrue misinterpret misjudge misread overlook underestimate
STRONG
addle blunder botch bungle confound err fail goof jumble lapse misapprehend misconceive miscount miss omit slip snarl tangle
WEAK
be off the mark be wrong deceive oneself get wrong have wrong impression make a mess misdeem misknow miss the boat not know put foot in slip up take for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
understand
STRONG
accomplish achieve clear up correct do well fix succeed uncomplicate
WEAK
be certain be sure comprehend interpret perceive
VERB
overdo
Synonyms
STRONGEST
exaggerate overplay overrate overreach overstate overuse overvalue
STRONG
amplify belabor fatigue hype magnify overburden overindulge overload overtax overtire overwork pressure puff stretch
WEAK
be intemperate bite off too much do to death drive oneself go overboard go too far lay it on make federal case not know when to stop pile on run into the ground run riot strain oneself talk big wear down wear oneself out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
play down
STRONG
compress decrease lessen
WEAK
ignore neglect
VERB
overrate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
exaggerate magnify oversell overvalue
STRONG
exceed overpraise
WEAK
assess too highly build up expect too much of make too much of overassess overesteem overprize overreckon rate too highly think too highly of think too much of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
play down
WEAK
underrate undervalue
VERB
overstate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify emphasize heighten inflate magnify misrepresent overdo overemphasize
STRONG
boast boost brag embellish embroider enlarge exalt expand fabricate fudge hike lie misquote pad puff
WEAK
blow out of proportion build up lay it on thick misreport play up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compress contract decrease ignore lessen play down
STRONG
abridge be modest deprecate lower reduce shrink simplify tell the truth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We always overestimate the speed at which these transitions disrupt existing industries.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

One factor persuading Hartnett to run his long bond call for now is that he believes economists got inflation wrong last year, and he thinks they’ll overestimate it again this year.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

Armour's letter said that education was facing a gap of £250m, and he could not "overestimate the financial challenge we face in seeking to address our funding gap".

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

Because plants depend on this process to access nitrogen, the overestimate has meaningful consequences.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

“You overestimate my abilities, but only slightly. And you didn’t answer my question.”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.