overanalysing
Thinking too hard
Overanalysing is the British spelling of overanalyzing, meaning to examine or think about something in excessive detail, often to the point of paralysis or distorted understanding.
Someone who overanalyses a text message might read meanings into it that were never intended.
The habit tends to create problems where none existed: Stop overanalysing everything she said and just ask her out.
Excessive focus on trivialities
- faultfindingSeeking out imperfections
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- dissectingMethodically cutting to examine
- parsingGrammatical structure extraction
deconstructing · scrutinizing · hair-splitting · quibbling · pedantry · captious · carping · caviling
Dwelling excessively on thoughts
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- dwellingPlace of residence
- rehashingRevisiting previously discussed material
second-guessing · spiraling · obsessing · perseverating · fixating · mulling · agonizing · stewing
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-scrutinyCritical examination of oneself
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
- navel-gazingExcessive inward contemplation
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
self-doubt · self-consciousness · reflection · self-awareness · self-criticism · metacognition
Failure to decide
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- inactionDeliberate nonmovement
stalling · dithering · waffling · avoidance · stuck · frozen · gridlock · impasse
Extreme carefulness in details
- exactingDemanding great care
- scrupulousThorough and principled
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
micromanaging · hyperfocus · control · exactitude · thoroughness · overworking · refinement · polishing
nitpicking
Excessive focus on trivialities
- faultfindingSeeking out imperfections
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- dissectingMethodically cutting to examine
parsing · deconstructing · scrutinizing · hair-splitting · quibbling · pedantry · captious · carping · caviling
overthinking
Dwelling excessively on thoughts
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- dwellingPlace of residence
rehashing · second-guessing · spiraling · obsessing · perseverating · fixating · mulling · agonizing · stewing · worrying
self-examination
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-scrutinyCritical examination of oneself
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
- navel-gazingExcessive inward contemplation
soul-searching · self-doubt · self-consciousness · reflection · self-awareness · self-criticism · metacognition
indecision
Failure to decide
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
inaction · stalling · dithering · waffling · avoidance · stuck · frozen · gridlock · impasse · stagnation
meticulousness
Extreme carefulness in details
- exactingDemanding great care
- scrupulousThorough and principled
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
uncompromising · micromanaging · hyperfocus · control · exactitude · thoroughness · overworking · refinement · polishing
overanalysingoverlooking
Failing to see or consider
ignoring · underthinking · glossing over · snap judgments · neglecting
overanalysingtaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
pulling the trigger · executing · moving forward · committing · decisive action
overanalysingintuiting
Knowing without evidence
winging it · improvising · shooting from the hip · gut feeling · freewheeling