overblown

1 of 2

adjective (1)

over·​blown ˌō-vər-ˈblōn How to pronounce overblown (audio)
Synonyms of overblownnext
: past the prime of bloom
overblown roses

overblown

2 of 2

adjective (2)

1
: excessively large in girth : portly
2
: inflated entry 1
overblown claims
overblown rhetoric
also : pretentious

Synonyms of overblown

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Adjective (2)

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Examples of overblown in a Sentence

Adjective (2) overblown predictions of financial calamity after the company had one bad quarter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Tech titans have defended their products and largely brushed off concerns as overblown or misguided. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 For me, the highlight of last week’s season premiere was not the wildly overblown fight between Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge, but all the glorious flashbacks to a time when RHOC wasn’t borderline unwatchable. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026 Others say the hype around the study is overblown, since the viruses were relatively simple to create. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Those concerns turned out to be largely overblown then; the election was defined much more by the influence of ascendant alternative new media than by deepfakes. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overblown

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

blow entry 3

Adjective (2)

blow entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overblown was circa 1625

Rhymes for overblown

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Browse Nearby Words

overblow
overblown
overboard
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overblown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overblown. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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