Meaning & use
catastrophize
Last updated
To interpret or present a situation as far worse than it actually is, often assuming the worst possible outcome.
See it in a sentence
He tends to catastrophize every minor setback into a full-blown crisis.
Her therapist taught her to notice when she started to catastrophize about small mistakes.
A note on using this word
Common in psychology and self-help writing, describing a cognitive distortion linked to anxiety.
Words with a similar meaning
overreact
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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