noun
A more emotional or forcible response than is justified.
‘sacking him is a massive overreaction’
- ‘there's been some overreaction to the new technology’
- ‘Now nobody wants the blame for what most consider a gross overreaction.’
- ‘Let's have a bit of common sense justice rather than all this hysterical overreaction.’
- ‘Even a moment's reflection is enough to realise that this is an extreme overreaction to a non-existent threat.’
- ‘This is typical of the knee-jerk overreaction that I find idiotic.’
- ‘The inflammation appears to be, at least in part, a result of an overreaction to normal intestinal flora.’
- ‘Some sort of overreaction to the protests was expected.’
- ‘As a consequence of investor overreaction, asset prices can temporarily depart from their underlying fundamental values.’
- ‘So it seems to be a bit of an overreaction for what is a slight offence.’
- ‘He said the dramatic downturn in the number of graduates was an over-reaction to recent job losses.’
- ‘Several leading figures have applauded her publicising of an important issue but warned against hysterical overreaction.’