A more emotional or forcible response than is justified.
sacking him is a massive overreaction
mass noun there's been some overreaction to the new technology
Example sentencesExamples
- Several leading figures have applauded her publicising of an important issue but warned against hysterical overreaction.
- So it seems to be a bit of an overreaction for what is a slight offence.
- Let's have a bit of common sense justice rather than all this hysterical overreaction.
- This is typical of the knee-jerk overreaction that I find idiotic.
- Even a moment's reflection is enough to realise that this is an extreme overreaction to a non-existent threat.
- The inflammation appears to be, at least in part, a result of an overreaction to normal intestinal flora.
- As a consequence of investor overreaction, asset prices can temporarily depart from their underlying fundamental values.
- He said the dramatic downturn in the number of graduates was an over-reaction to recent job losses.
- Some sort of overreaction to the protests was expected.
- Now nobody wants the blame for what most consider a gross overreaction.