/ English Dictionary

OVERCOMPENSATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make excessive corrections for fear of making an error

Synonyms:

over-correct; overcompensate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "overcompensate" is one way to...):

compensate; correct; redress; right (make reparations or amends for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities

Example:

he is compensating for being a bad father

Synonyms:

compensate; cover; overcompensate

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "overcompensate" is one way to...):

compensate; correct; counterbalance; even off; even out; even up; make up (adjust for)

Verb group:

cover; insure; underwrite (protect by insurance)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

overcompensation ((psychiatry) an attempt to overcome a real or imagined defect or unwanted trait by overly exaggerating its opposite)

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