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oversimplify

[oh-ver-sim-pluh-fahy] / ˌoʊ vərˈsɪm pləˌfaɪ /
VERB
make too simple
Synonyms


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.

See Examples For:

Together, these organisms determine how carbon is stored and recycled in the ocean, and treating them as a single group can oversimplify the ocean's response to climate pressures.

From Science Daily Feb. 8, 2026

Wald doesn’t think investors should oversimplify and assume that a strong dollar is always a headwind for big U.S. multinational companies—or a weak dollar supportive because it makes exports cheaper.

From Barron's Feb. 2, 2026

“Blanket messages may oversimplify complex evidence,” they wrote.

From MarketWatch Dec. 23, 2025

He is aware of criticism that videos like his oversimplify treatment, potentially leading some viewers to believe chiropractors can provide a magic bullet for a multitude of problems.

From New York Times Jun. 19, 2024

I’m not trying to oversimplify or make the process seem oversubtle.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Focusing too hard on the success stories glosses over these patients’ experiences—and oversimplifies the complex nature of treating chronic pain for teens who come to these programs hoping for a cure.

From Slate Sep. 15, 2025

Some critics argue influencer‑led charity oversimplifies deep‑rooted issues and risks becoming more spectacle than solution.

From Salon Aug. 3, 2025

"That number really oversimplifies what happens physiologically in the body when your body is exposed to that temperature, and it doesn't account for important variables like age or other vulnerability factors."

From Science Daily Nov. 30, 2023

"It is crucial to recognise that blaming Ronaldo alone oversimplifies a complex issue," he said.

From BBC Nov. 29, 2023

Suffice to say that there is a core of truth to Jefferson’s account of the dinner-table bargain, though it vastly oversimplifies the history that was happening at that propitious moment.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Advisers today consider this guideline outdated and oversimplified because it relies on static assumptions that don’t reflect modern retirement realities such as longer life expectancies, unexpected healthcare expenses and market downturns.

From MarketWatch Jul. 29, 2026

The goal of this research is not to create a new warning story for the modern world, but to replace an oversimplified one.

From Science Daily Feb. 10, 2026

Mr. Dhume may think that the newly minted labor codes’ permissive hiring rules only apply to private firms that have fewer than 300 workers—instead of 100 workers like before—but that’s an oversimplified analysis.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 26, 2026

That has often been oversimplified to mean 1.5C is "safe", something glaciologists have cautioned against for years.

From BBC May 20, 2025

Historians, however, may find them too brief and oversimplified.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

As a broad history of the pursuit around the world, “Hunting” succeeds in guiding the reader through various contexts without oversimplifying them.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 30, 2026

Avery McTaggart, an agent at L.A.-based TBA Agency whose clients include Jungle, Big Thief, Remi Wolf and Ethel Cain, says the premise of an AI agent risks oversimplifying what booking agents actually do.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 13, 2026

Winning over audiences to these stories requires striking a balance between clarity and complexity without oversimplifying its dizzily complex politics and mythology.

From Salon Nov. 17, 2024

What distinguishes “Inspired” is its expansive range and conversational tone, as well as Richtel’s ability to synthesize a lot of complex research, simplifying without oversimplifying.

From Washington Post Jun. 24, 2022

“And in many cases, that meant oversimplifying, omitting, and even outright falsehood. Now that you are here, there is no need for any of those things.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth



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