overthink

verb

over·think ˌō-vər-ˈthiŋk

overthought ˌō-vər-ˈthȯt

; overthinking

transitive + intransitive

: to think too much about (something) : to put too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that is more harmful than helpful

overthink a situation/problem

someone who overthinks and worries too much

"I was a terrible actor when I went to New York. I was scared. I would overprepare, sometimes overthink a role."—

Paul Newman

For a while now, I've been finding current fiction hard to read: airlessly competent, relentlessly put-together, overthought.—

David Gates

overthinker noun

plural overthinkers

But the problem is I'm an overthinker. I contemplate and consider, deliberate and debate things small and large in my life. Simple things become complicated and easy decisions become complex. —

Alyssa Meier

Examples of overthink in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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The Dodgers shouldn’t overthink Game 5, which should be a bullpen game, columnist Dylan Hernández writes. —

Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 And fearlessness, like a child who doesn’t overthink decisions, leads to innovation. —

Jane Hanson, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 The temptation to overthink is real, but this is an opportunity to reflect on your personal goals and recent growth. —

Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024 On the plus side, Libras are known for seeing all sides of a situation, which, unfortunately, is an easy way to overthink everything and become indecisive as hell. —

Anna Borges, SELF, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overthink