overgeneralize
Draw sweeping conclusions
To overgeneralize is to draw broad conclusions from limited evidence, applying what's true in some cases to all cases.
One bad experience and she overgeneralized about the whole country.
The tendency is common in stereotyping, where traits of some group members are attributed to everyone.
Also spelled overgeneralise in British English.
Remove essential complexity
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- abstractCondensed version of text
- universalizeMake broadly applicable
- decontextualizeRemove from original setting
elide · distort · flatten · efface · monolithic · one-size-fits-all · undifferentiated · indiscriminate
Fixed oversimplified notion
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- pigeonholeClassify too rigidly
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
- profileSide-facing outline
label · categorize · stigmatize · homogenize · essentialize · preconception · assumption · presume
oversimplify
Remove essential complexity
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- abstractCondensed version of text
- universalizeMake broadly applicable
decontextualize · elide · distort · flatten · efface · monolithic · one-size-fits-all · undifferentiated · indiscriminate · wholesale
stereotype
Fixed oversimplified notion
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- pigeonholeClassify too rigidly
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
profile · label · categorize · stigmatize · homogenize · essentialize · preconception · assumption · presume · misjudge
oversimplification
Stripping complexity unfairly
- broad-brushGeneral, not detailed
overgeneralizespecify
State in detail
particularize · differentiate · discriminate · distinguish · nuance
overgeneralizecomplicate
Make more difficult
overanalyze · elaborate · overspecify · hedge · overcomplicate
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