Überoptimistischen

Überoptimistischen is the declined form of the German adjective überoptimistisch, meaning excessively optimistic. The prefix über- intensifies optimistisch, signaling a judgment that goes beyond what is warranted by evidence or risk. In German, adjectives used attributively change endings according to gender, number, and case. The form überoptimistischen appears with plural nouns in several cases, for example die überoptimistischen Prognosen (nominative plural) or mit den überoptimistischen Prognosen (dative plural). In singular usage, other endings apply, such as ein überoptimistischer Plan (nominative singular) or einen überoptimistischen Plan (accusative singular).

In practice, überoptimistischen or its inflected forms are used to describe forecasts, plans, or attitudes that are too confident or rosy given constraints or uncertainties. It is common in discussions of project planning, finance, risk assessment, and policy evaluation. The term can be neutral when simply describing language or estimates, but it often carries a evaluative nuance, implying a misalignment between expectation and evidence.

Etymologically, it combines das Prefix über- with optimistisch, which itself derives from optimistisch and the broader concept of optimism. In English, equivalent constructions include overoptimistic or excessively optimistic. Related terms in German include überoptimistische Einschätzungen, optimistische Verzerrungen (optimism bias), and Planungsfehler, which describe similar tendencies toward overly favorable judgments.

See also: Optimismus; Optimismus-Bias; Planungsfehler; Realismus.