overtax

verb

over·​tax ˌō-vər-ˈtaks How to pronounce overtax (audio)
overtaxed; overtaxing

transitive verb

1
: to tax (someone or something) too heavily or beyond what is due
revenues raised through overtaxing the middle class
2
: to lay too heavy a burden or demand upon (someone or something)
exercises that overtax the muscles
overtaxing my patience
A fancy terminal with enough gates for all the planes, a work force that is alternately overtaxed and underemployed, and a high-tech baggage system all create high fixed costs.Marc Levinson et al.
overtaxation noun
Homelessness is worse here than anywhere in the country. The cost of living is out of control. Overtaxation is rampant. Infrastructure is crumbling. Eric Ryan

Examples of overtax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Business owners increasingly face a patchwork of expensive coverage and overtaxed government programs struggling to fill some of the gaps, leaving many policyholders holding the bag in the end. J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025 Nevertheless, the organization is also overtaxed militarily and on the defensive politically. Bilal Y. Saab, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2015 This is important because NASA's Deep Space Network is overtaxed in terms of its resources, so AstroForge will have to use commercially available satellite dishes around the world to communicate with its Odin spacecraft. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025 Texans are overtaxed, and Hollywood doesn't need your money! Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overtax

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overtax was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Overtax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtax. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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