overreach
Stretch too far
Overreach means to extend beyond proper limits, typically by attempting more than one can accomplish or by going too far in pursuit of an advantage.
When someone overreaches, they defeat their own purpose through excessive ambition or greed: The company overreached by expanding into too many markets at once.
In legal and political contexts, overreach often describes an abuse of power or authority: Critics accused the agency of regulatory overreach.
The noun overreach denotes such an instance of going too far.
Exceed proper limits
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- intrudeEnter uninvited
- infringeViolate another's rights
- violateBreak a rule deliberately
usurp · meddle · interfere · impinge · transgress · invade · appropriate · commandeer
Exceed one's limits
- stretchPull to extend
- strainExcessive stretching force
- hyperextensionJoint bent past normal
- overstretchExceed one's limits
pull · tear · overexertion · lunge · grasp · grab · topple · stumble
Ruinous excessive confidence
- overambitionExcessive drive for achievement
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
- presumptionBelief held without proof
audacity · grandiosity · megalomania · overestimation · empire-building · expansionism · vaulting · immoderation
Yield unintended consequences
- boomerangSelf-returning thrown weapon
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misstepError in action or judgment
downfall · comeuppance · reckoning · unraveling · collapse · implosion · debacle · fiasco
Oppressive, absolute governance
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- overregulationExcessive governmental control
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
mandate · decree · intervention · centralization · unconstitutional · overstepping · totalitarianism · autocracy
overstep
Exceed proper limits
violate · usurp · meddle · interfere · impinge · transgress · invade · appropriate · commandeer · encroach
overextend
Exceed one's limits
- stretchPull to extend
- strainExcessive stretching force
- hyperextensionJoint bent past normal
overstretch · pull · tear · overexertion · lunge · grasp · grab · topple · stumble · fall
hubris
Ruinous excessive confidence
- overambitionExcessive drive for achievement
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- arroganceExcessive self-importance
presumption · audacity · grandiosity · megalomania · overestimation · empire-building · expansionism · vaulting · immoderation · excess
backfire
Yield unintended consequences
- boomerangSelf-returning thrown weapon
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
misstep · downfall · comeuppance · reckoning · unraveling · collapse · implosion · debacle · fiasco · nemesis
tyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- overregulationExcessive governmental control
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
bureaucracy · mandate · decree · intervention · centralization · unconstitutional · overstepping · totalitarianism · autocracy · despotism
- Strategic Mistakesmiscalculation, overconfidence, underestimation, poor timing, overextension
- tragedytragedy, tragic flaw, tragic hero, tragic heroes, tragic irony
- going too faroverdo, overstepping, crossing the line, overstep, cross the line
- overdoing itoverdo, overwork, overspend, overexert, overpromise
- fatal flawsfatal flaw, tragic flaw, hubris, hamartia, Achilles heel
- impracticalitiesimpracticality, pipe dream, pie in the sky, castle in the air, fool's errand
overreachunderreach
Fail to reach far enough
play it safe · fall short · hold back · pull back · stop short
overreachrestraint
Control over impulses
self-restraint · moderation · prudence · self-control · hold back
overreachsucceed
Achieve a desired aim
achieve · pull off · accomplish · hit the mark · nail it
overreaching, overreached, overreachers, overreaches, overreacher