C1 noun Formal

overdentious

/ˌoʊvərˈdɛnʃəs/

A state or quality of possessing excessive ambition or pretension that surpasses practical limits or reality. It often refers to a grandiosity in one's claims or actions that is perceived as overreaching or unnecessarily complex.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The sheer overdentious of his weekend plans, involving three countries in forty-eight hours, left everyone exhausted just listening to it.

The absolute over-ambition of his weekend plans, involving three countries in forty-eight hours, left everyone exhausted just listening to it.

2

In her formal critique, the professor highlighted the overdentious of the thesis, noting that it attempted to solve too many global issues at once.

In her formal critique, the professor highlighted the overreaching nature of the thesis, noting that it attempted to solve too many global issues at once.

3

I like his ideas, but there's an overdentious in his delivery that makes him sound a bit full of himself.

I like his ideas, but there is a pretentiousness in his delivery that makes him sound a bit arrogant.

Word Family

Noun
overdentious
Verb
overdentiate
Adverb
overdentiously
Adjective
overdentious
Related
overdentiousness
💡

Memory Tip

Break it down: 'Over' (too much) + 'Dent' (impact). Imagine someone trying to make such a big 'dent' in the world that they end up being ridiculous.

Quick Quiz

The CEO's _______ led to a series of failed acquisitions that the company could not afford.

Correct!

The correct answer is: overdentious

Examples

1

The sheer overdentious of his weekend plans, involving three countries in forty-eight hours, left everyone exhausted just listening to it.

everyday

The absolute over-ambition of his weekend plans, involving three countries in forty-eight hours, left everyone exhausted just listening to it.

2

In her formal critique, the professor highlighted the overdentious of the thesis, noting that it attempted to solve too many global issues at once.

formal

In her formal critique, the professor highlighted the overreaching nature of the thesis, noting that it attempted to solve too many global issues at once.

3

I like his ideas, but there's an overdentious in his delivery that makes him sound a bit full of himself.

informal

I like his ideas, but there is a pretentiousness in his delivery that makes him sound a bit arrogant.

4

The overdentious exhibited by the early explorers often led to poorly planned expeditions that ignored local environmental hazards.

academic

The excessive grandiosity shown by the early explorers often led to poorly planned expeditions that ignored local environmental hazards.

5

Marketing teams warned that the project's overdentious would alienate middle-class consumers who prefer straightforward branding.

business

Marketing teams warned that the project's excessive pretension would alienate middle-class consumers who prefer straightforward branding.

Word Family

Noun
overdentious
Verb
overdentiate
Adverb
overdentiously
Adjective
overdentious
Related
overdentiousness

Common Collocations

sheer overdentious absolute pretension or overreaching
masked by overdentious hidden by an air of excessive ambition
exhibit overdentious to show signs of being over-ambitious
curb one's overdentious to limit one's grand claims or efforts
intellectual overdentious pretension regarding one's knowledge or intelligence

Common Phrases

a fit of overdentious

a sudden moment of acting too ambitiously

prone to overdentious

having a tendency to be pretentious

the height of overdentious

the most extreme example of overreaching

Often Confused With

overdentious vs ostentatiousness

Ostentatiousness focuses specifically on the vulgar display of wealth, while overdentious refers more broadly to the ambition and scale of one's claims.

📝

Usage Notes

This word is typically used in academic or highly formal settings to describe an attitude rather than a physical object. It carries a negative connotation of being 'too much' or 'unrealistically grand'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often treat this as an adjective because of the '-ious' suffix; however, in this context, it functions as a noun describing the state of being over-ambitious.

💡

Memory Tip

Break it down: 'Over' (too much) + 'Dent' (impact). Imagine someone trying to make such a big 'dent' in the world that they end up being ridiculous.

📖

Word Origin

Constructed from the prefix 'over-' and the Latin-root influenced 'dentious,' mimicking the structure of words like 'sententious' or 'pretentious'.

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun usually preceded by the definite article 'the' often followed by 'of' + noun phrase
🌍

Cultural Context

Frequently used in literary criticism or architectural reviews to describe works that try to do too much at once.

Quick Quiz

The CEO's _______ led to a series of failed acquisitions that the company could not afford.

Correct!

The correct answer is: overdentious

Related Words

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

people

A1

People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.

put

A1

To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.

mean

A1

To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.

keep

A1

To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.

begin

A1

To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.

seem

A1

To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.

help

A1

To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.

talk

A1

To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.

start

A1

To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.

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