overreliance

noun

over·​re·​li·​ance ˌō-vər-ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s How to pronounce overreliance (audio)
: the act or state of relying on something or someone too much : excessive reliance
One of my top priorities next year is to have an energy policy that begins to address all facets of our overreliance on fossil fuels.Barack Obama
I shy away from prescribing sleeping pills … to avoid overreliance on them.Andrew Weil

Examples of overreliance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While the occasional pouch can be part of a healthy diet, doctors and nutritionists are raising concerns that an overreliance on pouches can interfere with nutrition, long-term food preferences, dental hygiene and even speech and language development. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 As long as Europeans fail to act, think, and spend collectively, the continent will never outgrow its overreliance on Washington. Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2023 The department’s acquisition process, misunderstandings about the technology and overreliance on traditional contractors are contributing factors. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 Saudi Arabia has been expanding relations with a range of outside powers, including China and Russia, on energy and trade to avoid overreliance on the United States. Frederic Wehrey, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overreliance 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overreliance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overreliance was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near overreliance

Cite this Entry

“Overreliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overreliance. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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