MEANING
To explain something so simply that important distinctions or causes are lost.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- oversimplify the issue
- oversimplify a process
On the page
The binary comparison oversimplifies how the institutions actually work.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- oversimplify
- Past tense
- oversimplified
- Past participle
- oversimplified
- Present participle
- oversimplifying
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- oversimplify
- Present continuous
- am/is/are oversimplifying
- Present perfect
- have/has oversimplified
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been oversimplifying
- Past
- oversimplified
- Past continuous
- was/were oversimplifying
- Past perfect
- had oversimplified
- Past perfect continuous
- had been oversimplifying
- Future
- will oversimplify
- Future continuous
- will be oversimplifying
- Future perfect
- will have oversimplified
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been oversimplifying
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: oversimplify; oversimplifies; oversimplified; oversimplified; oversimplifying Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: oversimplifies.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.