Overelaborate

To overelaborate means to add excessive detail, ornamentation, or complexity to something, often to the point of obscuring its original purpose or diminishing its impact. It signifies a surplus of refinement, a tendency to overwork an idea, design, or process beyond what is necessary or beneficial. This can manifest in excessive verbosity, intricate embellishments, or convoluted methodologies. The resulting product might be perceived as ostentatious, pretentious, or ultimately confusing, losing clarity and effectiveness due to the added, unnecessary layers. The core essence of 'overelaborate' is an excess of detail, a failure to embrace simplicity, and a prioritization of intricate display over practical functionality or clear communication.

Overelaborate meaning with examples

• The architect's initial design was elegant and minimalist, but the client demanded an overelaborate facade with too many carvings and unnecessary decorative elements, ultimately detracting from the building's overall aesthetic appeal.
• Her manuscript was filled with insightful observations, but the editor advised her to cut down on the overelaborate descriptions and verbose sentences, as it was distracting from the core argument and made it hard for readers.
• The software's user interface, intended to be intuitive, became overelaborate with a multitude of nested menus, excessive animations, and unnecessary features, making it difficult for users to find what they needed.
• The chef's desire to impress led to an overelaborate dish that was a symphony of flavors but lost sight of the primary ingredient, a simple seasonal vegetable, burying its taste beneath a flurry of sauces and garnishes.
• While writing the company manual, the legal department made it overelaborate by including every conceivable scenario and exemption, creating a document far too cumbersome to be practical for employees to actually use.