oversimplify
verb
over·sim·pli·fy
| \ ˌō-vər-ˈsim-plə-ˌfī
\
\
oversimplified;
oversimplifying;
oversimplifies
Definition of oversimplify
: to simplify to such an extent as to bring about distortion, misunderstanding, or error
: to engage in undue or extreme simplification
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Other Words from oversimplify
oversimplification
\ ˌō-vər-ˌsim-plə-fə-ˈkā-shən
\
noun
\
noun
Examples of oversimplify in a Sentence
The article oversimplifies the problem.
She tends to oversimplify things.
We must resist the temptation to oversimplify.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Given the staggering complexity of the problem and the tendency of politics to oversimplify, the breadth of positions was commendable. — Wired, "CNN's Town Hall Made Climate Change Personal—and It Worked," 5 Sep. 2019 Such comparisons not only oversimplify Native identity but also contradict the biblical narrative itself, which recounts bloody wars fought by the Israelites against groups who preceded them in the land of milk and honey. — Rachel Poser, Harper's magazine, "Common Ground," 19 Aug. 2019 The author-illustrator team distills the commission’s 500-plus pages into a slim, lucid volume that in no way dumbs down or oversimplifies the findings. — George Gene Gustines, BostonGlobe.com, "Ernie Colón, 88, comic book artist who drew 9/11," 17 Aug. 2019 In writing her book, Shark Attacks: Myths, Misunderstandings and Human Fear, Chapman found that the human brain tends to oversimplify numbers. — Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, "Why are we afraid of sharks? There's a scientific explanation.," 27 June 2019 Johnson believes that oversimplifies the complex conditions that contribute to criminal behavior. — Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al.com, "Inside Birmingham’s Peace & Policy strategy: Will it stem the violence?," 24 July 2019 The trick is doing so without overburdening him or oversimplifying the offense in the process. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Why the Pairing of Russell Westbrook and James Harden Won’t Be a Simple Fit," 12 July 2019 But almost as insidious are those politicians and pundits who oversimplify history. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, "1998 Was a Seinfeld Election—Not an Impeachment Referendum," 6 June 2019 Other analyses of teacher salaries tend to use a single measure of pay: usually starting teacher salaries or median pay, both of which oversimplify the issue. — USA Today, "'Can't pay their bills with love': For many teaching jobs, teachers' pay can't cover rent," 5 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oversimplify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for oversimplify
oversimplify
verb
English Language Learners Definition of oversimplify
: to describe (something) in a way that does not include all the facts and details and that causes misunderstanding
See the full definition for oversimplify in the English Language Learners Dictionary
oversimplify
verb
over·sim·pli·fy
| \ ˌō-vər-ˈsim-plə-ˌfī
\
\
oversimplified;
oversimplifying
Kids Definition of oversimplify
: to cause (something) to seem simpler than it is
He oversimplified a complicated problem.