Overemphatically

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that excessively underscores a particular idea or perspective
2. By giving undue prominence to a statement in an exaggerated form
3. Expressing something with more force or stress than necessary

Etymology: "Overemphatically" is built from "overemphatic" plus the suffix "-ally", which turns an adjective into an adverb. The base adjective, "overemphatic", is itself formed by attaching the prefix "over-", meaning excessively, to "emphatic", which describes something forceful or stressed. Put together, the adverb describes doing something with more stress or force than is needed. Each part keeps its ordinary job. "Over-" can be attached to many adjectives to mark excess, as in "overcautious" or "overeager", and "-ally" is the common adverb ending for adjectives ending in "-ic". The word therefore needs no special story: it is a transparent chain of ordinary English pieces, and its meaning follows directly from them.

Synonyms: excessively, unduly, overly, intensely, strongly

Antonyms: understatedly, subtly, moderately, gently, mildly