I need a word

July 10, 2016 • 10:20 am

I’m writing a piece (not for here), and am trying to remember the synonym, which I think is slightly pejorative, for the word “overqualified”. That is, when someone’s education or background is far more than needed for a job, they’re said to be _______________.

I’m racking my brain to remember that word, so I’ll try crowdsourcing it.  I can’t find the right synonym on the Internet.

56 thoughts on “I need a word”

  2. The reverse of the Peter Principle

    Search Results
    Peter principle – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle
    Wikipedia
    The Peter principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter in which the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate’s performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role.
    _____________________________________________sorry – can’t think of it either

  5. The only similar word I could think of was ‘supererogatory’. It’s not a synonym but it’s as close as I could get.
    Good luck – hate it when you have a word on the tip of your tongue(it’s happening depressingly often these days).

    1. Thank you!
      I’ve now learned a new word and the overtones of its meaning to do with religion and philosophy are making surprisingly interesting reading.

      1. LOL! Overachiever isn’t a perjorative but it’s most definitely something you don’t want to be. I am still this way. Causes you to go a little nuts.

        1. Not always, but it can have a pejorative connotation, usually by suggesting that the subject must not live a very full life outside of the discipline in which they’ve achieved.

        2. I almost always hear it used perjoratively, almost synonymous with show off. Sometimes there’s a hint of jealousy, as well. But I can’t recall ever hearing it used in conversation as a compliment (in print is a bit different).

      2. It’s ironic for me to read this from a writer who has me so frequently highlighting words, right-clicking them, and then left-clicking “Search Google for _______” to find out what they mean.

      3. Wouldn’t an overachiever be someone who excelled despite a lack of education?

      4. Overachievers are not overqualified. They are underqualified and have less education than they should, but work really hard. Wikipedia: “Overachievers are individuals who “perform better or achieve more success than expected.” The implicit presumption is that the “overachiever” is achieving superior results through excessive effort.”

        1. I don’t know that over achievers are under qualified but they tend to approach every task with excessive gusto and never feel that they have achieved enough.

        2. The term doesn’t seem to describe a person’s actual abilities but only how they are expected to be by others. Merriam Webster also describes it in this matter.

      6. My understanding of an overachiever has always been someone who achieves better than expected results through great application, discipline, effort, etc. E.g. someone who achieves impressive sports results despite not having especially great natural athletic talent, or someone who is academically successful despite not having an especially high IQ. Conversely, an underachiever is someone with the natural talent for success but who fails to live up to it (e.g. through lack of discipline, effort, and application).

        1. As a quite spectacular underachiever myself that’s the way I like to think of it, yes. Although I’d add “…and the world conspiring against them” at the end of your bracketed sentence.

  16. In cards, it’s called “Sending a man to do a boy’s job” (when you use a King for something a Jack would accomplish)

    Another option: Philosophy Ph.D.

  18. “Over-quallified” and “over-educated” are alraady pejorative and a bit nonsensical. If you particularly *want* a given job, why is it an employer’s business if you have surplus knowledge and diplomas?

    1. The employers are worried that you won’t stick around; after they train you, you’ll leave as soon as you get a better offer.

  21. From the Thesaurus
    Too knowledgeable
    Too learned
    Too intellectual
    Too well-read

    educated adjective
    an educated person has received a good education and has a lot of knowledge

    knowledgeable adjective
    knowing a lot about many different subjects or about one particular subject

    trained adjective
    someone who is trained for a profession or job has all the necessary skills and qualifications

    learned adjective
    a learned person knows a lot about one or more subjects, especially academic subjects

    intellectual adjective
    well educated and interested in art, science, literature etc at an advanced level

    qualified adjective
    able to do something, because you have the knowledge, skill, or experience that is needed

    literate adjective
    able to read and write

    well-read adjective
    someone who is well read has read many books and has a lot of knowledge

    scholarly adjective
    someone who is scholarly knows a lot about a particular subject or studies something seriously

    worldly-wise adjective
    a worldly-wise person has a lot of experience and knowledge of life

  22. An overachiever is not overqualified. He or she is under qualified in some way but has been successful in spite of that deficiency.

  23. Underemployed, underutilized.

    Both overqualified and overachiever are pejorative of the employee (if you don’t think so, imagine someone saying that to you), whereas the above two are more balanced in implied reproach of employee & employer, with employer getting perhaps a slight majority.

    1. I assume you mean “overachiever.” I think I have heard it both ways, but the complimentary sense comes first to my mind, too.

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