overtreatment

noun

over·​treat·​ment ˌō-vər-ˈtrēt-mənt How to pronounce overtreatment (audio)
: treatment that is excessive or too frequent
especially : too much medical treatment
patients subjected to overtreatment due to new screening guidelines

Examples of overtreatment 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.
In some cases, additional screenings can lead women to be diagnosed and treated for cancers that would never have bothered them, problems known as overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Liz Szabo, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024 Hg – due to arm position – leading to overdiagnosis or overtreatment, in the form of a new prescription or dose modification. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024 This waste arises from a matrix of administrative complexities, unnecessary overtreatment and lackluster care coordination—all leading to increasing prices without proportionate gains in health. Shakeel Ahmed, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 The prevailing dental economic model based on fee-for-service creates an environment of dental overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 7 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for overtreatment 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overtreatment was circa 1904

Dictionary Entries Near overtreatment

Cite this Entry

“Overtreatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtreatment. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!