OVERSIMPLIFY (oversimplified)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: oversimplified   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does oversimplify mean? 

• OVERSIMPLIFY (verb)
  The verb OVERSIMPLIFY has 2 senses:

1. simplify to an excessive degree

2. make too simple

  Familiarity information: OVERSIMPLIFY used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OVERSIMPLIFY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they oversimplify    ... he / she / it oversimplifies   
Past simple: oversimplified   
Past participle: oversimplified   
-ing form: oversimplifying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Simplify to an excessive degree

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

Don't oversimplify the problem

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

exaggerate; overdo (do something to an excessive degree)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

oversimplification (an act of excessive simplification; the act of making something seem simpler than it really is)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make too simple

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Don't oversimplify the instructions

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

simplify (make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

oversimplification (a simplification that goes too far (to the point of misrepresentation))