overengineer
verbEtymology From over- + engineer.
1
To render something more complicated than necessary; often implying that the complexity was added intentionally.
- While PlayStation 3 surpasses both Wii and Xbox 360 in performance and graphics, the critics say it suffers from the same problem as many other Sony products: it is overengineered, scaring away average shoppers.2007 January 31, Martin Fackler, “Hobbled by Disappointing Sales and a Loss at the Game Unit, Sony's Profit Drops 5%”, in New York Times:
- Fortunately, the Victorians over-engineered their structures, as they didn't have the advantages we have now of a modern understanding of structural dynamics.2023 June 28, Sir Michael Holden, “Comment: 'There will be more Nunehams'”, in RAIL, number 986, page 3:
- Related terms
- overdesign