overactedadj.
/ˌəʊvərˈaktᵻd/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈæktəd/ Overdone; esp. performed in an exaggerated manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > [adjective] > extreme > done to extremes
overdoneOE
overacted1628
stagy1860
sensationalized1879
1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. xiv. sig. D2 His ouer-acted dissimulation discouers him.
1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 90 To become ridiculous by an over-acted imitation.
1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband v. 66 In Love nothing is more Ridiculous, than an over-acted Aversion.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. vi. iii. 242 She..imagined the young Lady had taken this Way to rally her out of her Opinion, by an overacted Civility. View more context for this quotation
1806 R. Polwhele Poems I. 152 Beware Of overacted violence, that turns To ridicule the best-imagin'd strain.
1859 J. S. Knowles Rose of Arragon iii. i. 372 (stage direct.) With over-acted energy.
1934 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 224 251 The final angle of compensatory torque of the head, the adjustment is an excessive or overacted one.
1976 Times 23 Nov. 11/7 The fake have lay in every line of dialogue, and every over-acted gesture.
2002 Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) (Nexis) 10 Feb. c4 [He] skated past the home bench, arms raised in overacted joy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1628