overstatement

English

Etymology

overstate +‎ -ment or over- +‎ statement

Pronunciation

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Noun

overstatement (countable and uncountable, plural overstatements)

1. An exaggeration; a statement in excess of what is reasonable.

   The story he gave was something of an overstatement of the facts.

   • 1951 November, David R. Webb, “The Drummond 4-4-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 774:

     It would hardly be an overstatement to describe Drummond's next design as an outstanding British locomotive class, and possibly his masterpiece.

2. The tendency to overstate.

   She had a knack for overstatement.

Synonyms

• exaggeration
• hyperbole

See also

• understatement