Overreaction

Pronunciation: /ˌoʊvər.rɪˈækʃən/

Definitions of overreaction

noun an excessive or exaggerated response to a situation or stimulus

Example Sentences

A1 She had an overreaction when she saw a spider in the bathroom.

A2 His overreaction to the news caused unnecessary drama in the office.

B1 The teacher's overreaction to a simple question made the students feel uncomfortable.

B2 The politician's overreaction to the criticism only made the situation worse.

C1 Her overreaction to the minor mistake showed a lack of emotional intelligence.

C2 The company's overreaction to the negative feedback led to a PR disaster.

Examples of overreaction in a Sentence

formal The company's decision to terminate the employee seemed like an overreaction to the minor mistake.

informal Calm down, you're overreacting to the situation.

slang Don't freak out, it's just a little overreaction.

figurative Her emotional outburst was like an overreaction to a small spark.

Grammatical Forms of overreaction

• past tense: overreacted
• plural: overreactions
• comparative: more overreactive
• superlative: most overreactive
• present tense: overreact
• future tense: will overreact
• perfect tense: have overreacted
• continuous tense: is overreacting
• singular: overreaction
• positive degree: overreactive
• infinitive: to overreact
• gerund: overreacting
• participle: overreacted

Origin and Evolution of overreaction

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'overreaction' is believed to have originated from the combination of the prefix 'over-' meaning excessive or beyond, and the word 'reaction' referring to a response or a consequence.

Evolution of the word: The term 'overreaction' has been used to describe exaggerated responses or behaviors since its first known use in the early 17th century. Over time, the word has come to be commonly used in various contexts to signify an excessive or disproportionate reaction to a stimulus or situation.