overcorrection
Too much fixing
Overcorrection is adjusting too far in the opposite direction when trying to fix something.
A driver who overcorrects after drifting right may swerve left into oncoming traffic.
The term applies beyond physical actions: The company's diversity initiatives felt like overcorrection for past discrimination.
Overcorrection often creates new problems while solving old ones.
Strong negative reaction
- pendulumSuspended swinging weight
- rebalancingRestoring proper proportions
- counteractionNeutralizing opposing effort
- swingSuspended recreational seat
reversal · overadjustment · recalibration · equilibrium · compensation · realignment · regulation · reform
Disproportionate emotional response
- overcompensateExceed necessary correction
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
- overthinkPonder far too much
- overanalyzeScrutinize beyond usefulness
overzealous · overreach · overplay · overstate · overemphasize · exaggeration · hypercorrection · knee-jerk
Go beyond intended point
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- off-courseDeviating from intended path
- misalignmentImproper positioning relative to reference
- trajectoryPath of moving object
displacement · veer · navigation · oscillation · target · error · recalculation · waypoint
backlash
Strong negative reaction
- pendulumSuspended swinging weight
- rebalancingRestoring proper proportions
- counteractionNeutralizing opposing effort
swing · reversal · overadjustment · recalibration · equilibrium · compensation · realignment · regulation · reform · policy
overreaction
Disproportionate emotional response
- overcompensateExceed necessary correction
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
- overthinkPonder far too much
overanalyze · overzealous · overreach · overplay · overstate · overemphasize · exaggeration · hypercorrection · knee-jerk · extreme
overshoot
Go beyond intended point
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- off-courseDeviating from intended path
- misalignmentImproper positioning relative to reference
trajectory · displacement · veer · navigation · oscillation · target · error · recalculation · waypoint · heading
oversteer
Excessive rear rotation
- understeerFront-wheel traction loss
- swerveAbrupt directional change
- steeringControlling direction of movement
skid · fishtail · yaw · slide · lateral · traction · handling · braking · throttle · control
- Orthodonticsbraces, retainers, aligners, brackets, archwire
- vehicle mishapscollision, crash, rollover, jackknife, skid
- adjustment errorsmiscalibration, wrong setting, overcompensation, misalignment, overtightening
- fat graftingdonor site, adipocytes, Brazilian butt lift, BBL
- strabismus surgeryrecession, resection, tenotomy, plication
- learninglearning, learn, classes, instruction, studying
overcorrectionmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
fine-tuning · moderation · restraint · steady hand · equilibrium
overcorrectionunderreaction
Insufficiently strong response
neglect · inaction · non-intervention · laissez-faire · passivity