overact

present singular third person overacts · participle present overacting · participle past overacted · past overacted

1. intransitiveactingTo act in an exaggerated manner.

   He overacted his part.

   2 more examples

   If governments overact and become oppressive, the terrorists will have won, for their theory is that repression will eventually lead to revolution.

   1989, Susheela Bhan, Terrorism: an Annotated Bibliography, page 116

   The scenework proves unsuccessful when Carmichael recalls not the source of her misandry but another episode of overacting, that of castratively biting off the moustache of an amorous man.

   2016, Leslie H. Abramson, Hitchcock & the Anxiety of Authorship

2. obsoletetransitiveTo act upon, or influence, unduly.

   The hope of inheritance overacts them.

   1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC

   1 more example

   The χαμολνία, Humicubation, lying upon ground, &c. which things have been overacted, and still are in the Greek and Roman Churches.

   1695, John Whitefoot, A Discourse upon I. Peter IV. VIII., Cambridge: John Hayes, page 16