overparticularize

verb

To speak [of] in excessively particular terms; overspecify.

Scrabble 33

Meanings

verboverparticularize (third-person singular simple present overparticularizes, present participle overparticularizing, simple past and past participle overparticularized)

present singular third person overparticularizes · participle present overparticularizing · participle past overparticularized · past overparticularized

  1. intransitivetransitiveTo speak [of] in excessively particular terms; overspecify.
    1 more example

    The phrase "gay and lesbian" in the names of our organizations has apparently completed its evolution to "gay, lesbian and bisexual." The next step, no doubt, will be to adopt the French construction and label ourselves, collectively, "gay, lesbian, bisexual and bisexuelles," to differentiate between males and females attracted to both sexes. Overparticularizing hurts our image. Presenting ourselves as a coalition of three subgroups suggests to the standard All-American bigot a kabal of "special-interest groups" (as conservatives call us). It presents three "ugly" words to be assimilated, instead of one—three "fringe" groups to be accommodated.

    1991 December 22, Steven Capra, “We Have To Be Careful”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 23, page 4

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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