/oh'veuhr kom"peuhn sayt'/ , v. , overcompensated, overcompensating .
v.t.
1. to compensate or reward excessively; overpay: Some stockholders feel the executives are being overcompensated and that bonuses should be reduced.
v.i.
2. to exhibit psychological overcompensation; strive to overcome a sense of inferiority through overt, opposite behavior: The aggressive patient may be overcompensating, and be a profoundly shy person beneath the façade.
[ 1760-70; OVER- + COMPENSATE; as term in psychology, perh. back formation from OVERCOMPENSATION ]