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Noun: overcompensation  ,ow-vu(r),kóm-pun'sey-shun
  1. (psychiatry) an attempt to overcome a real or imagined defect or unwanted trait by overly exaggerating its opposite
    "His constant boasting was a form of overcompensation for his low self-esteem"
     
  2. Excessive compensation
    "The CEO's salary was criticized as overcompensation given the company's poor performance"

Derived forms: overcompensations

Type of: compensation

Encyclopedia: Overcompensation