hyperreacting
Disproportionate emotional reaction
Hyperreacting is responding with excessive intensity to something that doesn't warrant such a strong reaction.
The prefix hyper- suggests going beyond normal bounds: She accused him of hyperreacting to a minor scheduling conflict.
The word often carries implicit criticism—that the reaction is disproportionate to the stimulus.
Excessively prone to offense
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
volatile · hair-trigger · explosive · knee-jerk · disproportionate · blowing up · freaking out · losing it
Exaggerated response to stimuli
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- histamineAllergy-response compound
- inflammationProtective tissue response
cytokines · antibodies · immunoglobulin · allergens · hives · swelling · rash · asthma
Represent as greater
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
- overdramatizeExaggerate emotional significance
- overplayEmphasize excessively
- overemphasizeStress something too much
blow out of proportion · make a mountain out of a molehill · amplify · magnify · escalate · inflating · sensationalize · embellish
oversensitive
Excessively prone to offense
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- touchyEasily upset or offended
defensive · volatile · hair-trigger · explosive · knee-jerk · disproportionate · blowing up · freaking out · losing it · meltdown
hypersensitivity
Exaggerated response to stimuli
- anaphylaxisSevere systemic allergic reaction
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- histamineAllergy-response compound
inflammation · cytokines · antibodies · immunoglobulin · allergens · hives · swelling · rash · asthma · eczema
overstate
Represent as greater
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
- overdramatizeExaggerate emotional significance
- overplayEmphasize excessively
overemphasize · blow out of proportion · make a mountain out of a molehill · amplify · magnify · escalate · inflating · sensationalize · embellish · overstating
hyperreactingunderreacting
Insufficient emotional response
keeping cool · taking it in stride · shrugging off · downplaying · minimizing
hyperreactingmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
proportional response · underreacting · taking it in stride · nonreaction · indifference
hyperreactingkeeping one's cool
Staying composed when provoked
keeping a cool head · stoicism · self-control · temperance · sangfroid