übereilt

Übereilt is a German adjective and adverb describing actions or decisions that are done too quickly and without adequate deliberation. It conveys criticism of haste and a failure to weigh consequences. The term frequently appears in formal and journalistic writing, as well as everyday speech, and can modify nouns (eine übereilte Entscheidung) or describe a verb (Er handelte übereilt).

From über- meaning over and eilen meaning to hurry, übereilt literally conveys hurrying over something. The form is the past participle of the verb übereilen, used adjectivally or adverbially.

Übereilt differs from überstürzt in that it emphasizes a hastiness and lack of careful consideration rather than merely rushing forward; it also implies a lack of deliberation rather than a focus on speed alone. It is related to unüberlegt (ill-considered) and vorschnell (premature), but carries a stronger negative judgement about the impulse behind the action. The term often appears in discussions of politics, business decisions, or personal judgments that were not properly thought through.

Examples:

Es war eine übereilte Entscheidung, die ohne Rücksicht auf Risiken getroffen wurde.

Er handelte übereilt und riskierte dadurch Fehler.

See also: übereilig, überstürzt, unüberlegt, vorschnell. Noun form: die Übereilung.