Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Revealing excessive self-confidence; reaching for the heights: Describing an action, plan, or attitude that is overly ambitious, extending beyond reasonable or prudent limits, often due to arrogance or hubris.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • His overreaching plan to dominate the market in six months failed spectacularly.
  • The company's overreaching ambition led to a series of costly mistakes.
  • Critics accused the government of overreaching in its attempt to regulate the internet.

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a character flaw: Often used in literary or political analysis to describe a tragic flaw (hamartia) where ambition exceeds moral or practical constraints.
  • The play's protagonist is brought down by his own overreaching pride.

Variants and Related Words

• Overreach (verb): To fail by trying to achieve, gain, or do more than is possible or reasonable.
  • The company overreached with its rapid expansion and faced bankruptcy.
• Overreacher (noun): A person who overreaches.

Synonyms

• Overambitious: Excessively ambitious.
• Presumptuous: Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
• Hubristic: Showing excessive pride or self-confidence.

Related Phrases

• To overreach oneself: To fail because of an attempt to do too much or to be too successful.
  • In his desire for quick profits, he overreached himself and lost everything.

Adjective

1. revealing excessive self-confidence; reaching for the heights
   • vaulting ambition