miscompensate

M3I1S1C3O1M3P3E1N1S1A1T1E1

verb

To err when attempting to adapt to a condition.

Scrabble 21

Meanings

verbmiscompensate (third-person singular simple present miscompensates, present participle miscompensating, simple past and past participle miscompensated)

present singular third person miscompensates · participle present miscompensating · participle past miscompensated · past miscompensated

  1. To err when attempting to adapt to a condition.

    The nervous system, once so adept at compensation, begins to miscompensate, exacerbating the overall dysfunction of the system.

    2017, Christopher A. Shaw, Neural Dynamics of Neurological Disease, page 11
    1 more example

    A background spectrum (without any sample in the infrared beam) must be obtained in order to subtract atmospheric effects on the spectrum, but sometimes, because of momentary local changes in the atmosphere, the instrument miscompensates.

    1990, William R. Biers, Patrick E. McGovern, Organic contents of ancient vessels
  2. To provide the wrong amount of payment as compensation.

    Other parties can but guess at their negotiating partner's reliance costs, so they are likely to miscompensate .

    1991, Southern california law review - Volume 64, Part 1, page 40
    1 more example

    The author criticizes this method of damage calculation and provides examples of how it can "miscompensate" plaintiff for economic loss, leading to an inefficient deterrent effect and excessive social costs.

    1989, The Trade-mark Reporter - Volume 79, page 214

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

miscompensate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/miscompensate

MLA

“miscompensate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/miscompensate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “miscompensate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/miscompensate.

Source: miscompensate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.