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Overreaction vs Underreaction - What's the difference?

overreaction | underreaction | Antonyms |

Overreaction is an antonym of underreaction.


As nouns the difference between overreaction and underreaction

is that overreaction is a reaction that is excessive while underreaction is a reaction that is inadequate or insufficient.

overreaction

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A reaction that is excessive.
  • *She had every right to dump you, but cutting up all your clothes after she did so was an overreaction .
  • * This whole fear over swine flu was unfounded; it was clearly an overreaction .
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2012-12-14
    • , author=Simon Jenkins, authorlink=Simon Jenkins , title=We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys , volume=188, issue=2, page=3 , date=2012-12-21 , magazine= citation , passage=The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.}}

    underreaction

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reaction that is inadequate or insufficient.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2009, date=May 24, author=Colleen Kinder, title=Unmasked, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=If there was no consensus on tapabocas, I thought I might at least find a safe midpoint between overreactions and underreactions . }}

    Antonyms

    * overreaction