overreaction

From over- +‎ reaction

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overreaction (countable and uncountable, plural overreactions)

1. A reaction that is excessive.
   • She had every right to dump you, but cutting up all your clothes after she did so was an overreaction.
   • This whole fear over swine flu was unfounded; it was clearly an overreaction.
   • 2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly‎, volume 188, number 2, page 3:

     The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.