noun
overcompensation
oh-ver-kom-pen-SAY-shun/ˌoʊvərˌkɑmpɛnˈseɪʃən/
An excessive response intended to make up for a weakness or shortfall.
The towering stack of gifts is overcompensation for the forgotten birthday cake.
Etymology
Compensation originally pictured weighing one thing against another to restore balance. Overcompensation takes that corrective effort too far, as in exaggerated striving to counter a feeling of inferiority.
More examples
- Buying lavish gifts becomes her overcompensation for missing family dinners.
- The extra training feels like overcompensation for one missed practice.
- His apology is sincere, but the dozen follow-up messages are overcompensation.
Forms
overcompensation · overcompensations
overcompensate verb — To respond excessively to offset a weakness.
Similar words
- overcorrection
- Emphasizes correcting a problem so far that another develops.
- overreaction
- An excessive response, not necessarily meant to offset weakness.