overgeneralize
Definition
Verb: * To form a conclusion or make a statement that is too broad or sweeping, applying a specific observation or rule to all situations or cases without sufficient evidence or consideration of exceptions.
Usage
This verb describes the cognitive error of extending a specific idea, rule, or observation to an overly wide range of situations. It is often used in academic, psychological, and critical thinking contexts to identify flawed reasoning.
Examples
- Verb:
- It is easy to overgeneralize from a single bad experience.
- The researcher warned against overgeneralizing the study's findings to the entire population.
- You cannot overgeneralize and say all politicians are corrupt based on one scandal.
Advanced Usage
- Noun Form (Overgeneralization): The act or an instance of overgeneralizing.
- His argument was weakened by several logical overgeneralizations.
- Linguistics Context: In language acquisition, it refers to a child applying a grammatical rule too broadly (e.g., saying "goed" instead of "went").
- The child's use of "foots" is a common overgeneralization of the plural "-s" rule.
Variants and Related Words
- Overgeneralization (n): The act or result of overgeneralizing.
- Generalize (v): To make a general statement or form a general principle. ("Overgeneralize" is an excessive or faulty form of this.)
- Stereotype (v/n): To overgeneralize a fixed and oversimplified image or idea about a group of people.
Synonyms
- Oversimplify
- Make a sweeping statement
- Paint with a broad brush
Antonyms
- Specify
- Qualify
- Nuance
- Differentiate
Verb
-
draw too general a conclusion
-
It is dangerous to overgeneralize
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
Từ có nhắc đến "overgeneralize"
