overreact
UK: ˌəʊvərɪˈækt | US: ˌoʊvərɪˈækt
vi. to react more strongly or emotionally than is justified
vt. to respond to something with excessive intensity
The word "overreact" combines the prefix "over-" (from Old English "ofer," meaning "excessive" or "beyond") with the verb "react" (from Latin "re-" [back] + "agere" [to act]). The fusion reflects a logical progression: "over-" amplifies the base action, turning a neutral response into an exaggerated one. This structure is common in English to indicate excess (e.g., "overeat," "overthink").
She tends to overreact when faced with minor setbacks.
The media often overreacts to political scandals.
Don’t overreact—the situation isn’t as bad as it seems.
His decision to quit over a small mistake was clearly an overreaction.
Parents sometimes overreact to their children’s harmless mistakes.