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Showing results for overcompensate.
Definitions

overcompensate

[oh-ver-kom-puhn-seyt] / ˌoʊ vərˈkɒm pənˌseɪt /
VERB
recompense
Synonyms
STRONG
atone balance comp compensate counterbalance counterpoise countervail equalize expiate fix grease indemnify offset pay propitiate reciprocate recoup recover redress reimburse remunerate repay requite retaliate retrieve return reward satisfy square
WEAK
ante up atone for cough up do business give satisfaction make amends make good make up for pay for put out spring for sweeten the pot swing for take care of
Antonyms
STRONG
deprive disproportion dissatisfy lose penalize refuse seize take worsen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This sounds obvious, she says, but many people “neglect to pause” and try to overcompensate, which causes them to talk in circles.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

If anything, their father and mother took that away from them and left them feeling powerless, which explains this need for Kendall to overcompensate and try too hard and overshoot the mark.

From New York Times • May 30, 2023

He almost always makes a bad move and then tries to overcompensate.

From Salon • Aug. 11, 2022

“We all know guys who overcompensate for their inadequacies,” Timken said in the spot.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2022

I guess it’s because everything’s so strict the rest of the time, they feel like they’ve got to overcompensate or something.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Vocabulary lists containing overcompensate

Divergent

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