excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈse-siv 

: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal

excessively adverb

excessiveness noun

Synonyms

• baroque
• devilish
• exorbitant
• extravagant
• extreme
• fancy
• immoderate
• inordinate
• insane
• intolerable
• lavish
• overdue
• overextravagant
• overmuch
• overweening
• plethoric
• steep
• stiff
• towering
• unconscionable
• undue
• unmerciful

Choose the Right Synonym for excessive

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of excessive in a Sentence

an excessive display of wealth

High fever, nausea, and excessive sweating are some of the symptoms.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last month, a Justice Department report from a yearlong federal civil rights probe into police in Trenton, New Jersey, found officers routinely used excessive force and violated residents' civil rights during arrests and traffic stops. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024

Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols’ serious injuries. —Adrian Sainz and Jonathan Mattise, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024

The Memphis Police Department was found to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution due to a pattern of misconduct involving discrimination and excessive force, according to an investigation by the Department of Justice. —Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2024

Penelope Hegseth, the mother of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, appeared on Fox News on Wednesday morning to vouch for her son, who has been accused of excessive drinking, mistreatment of women and other misconduct. —Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈses-iv 

: showing excess : too much

excessively adverb

excessiveness noun

Legal Definition

excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive

: exceeding what is proper, necessary, or normal

specifically : being out of proportion to the offense

excessive bail