overratedadj.

1586 W. Warner Æneidos in Albions Eng. sig. P^v The repentant payment of mine ouer-rated pleasure.

a1618 J. Sylvester Funeral Elegie M. Wyts in G. de S. Du Bartas Divine Weekes & Workes (1621) 1166 So that his Reason (though divine-inspir'd) Seems over-rated, or too-dear acquir'd.

1697 C. Hopkins Boadicea i. i. 2 Thy Love is all my Spur, thy precious Smiles The purchase of my over-rated Toils.

1756 G. G. Beekman Let. 2 Feb. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 273 I bleive [sic] Wallis not to be so honist as he ought, and had I amagined his Estate was so Over Rated..I never Would have signed his Letter Lycence.

1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 30 In regard to overrated and unjust claims.

1836 J. Abbott Way to do Good vii. 222 It is this overrated importance which each..attaches to its own forms..that constitutes the repellency between the brawlers.

1879 M. Arnold Falkland in Mixed Ess. 208 Horace Walpole pronounces him a much overrated man.

1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy iii. 38 Not only had he no mother, but he had not the slightest desire to have one. He thought them very overrated persons.

1978 C. Heath Lady on Burning Deck 202 Men would tell one another that of course they didn't really like champagne, they thought it was a very overrated drink.

1994 C. Pursell White Heat vi. 160 Perhaps the most overrated weapon of the war was the Patriot ground-to-air missile.