overuse

1 of 2

verb

over·​use ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 

overused; overusing

transitive verb

: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently

a word that has been greatly overused

At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.

—Marilyn Chase

overuse

2 of 2

noun

over·​use ˌō-vər-ˈyüs 

: too much use : excessive or too frequent use

the overuse of antibiotics

athletes suffering from overuse injuries

His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.

—Frederick Kaufman

Synonyms

Verb

• hackney
• overexpose
• stereotype
• vulgarize

Examples of overuse in a Sentence

Verb

she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Third, for overusing fracking water from aquifers that ranchers depend on in semi-desert regions of the country, such as New Mexico. —Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

Avoid overusing oxygen bleach to prevent chalky residue deposits. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024

Noun

The animation is solid and the little ones will indeed relish the loud antics and the pratfalls while older ones in the crowd might well groan about the overuse of puns. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024

The report critiques the overuse of race in algorithms, treating it as a proxy for other variables, such as socioeconomic status or discrimination. —Kaan Ozcan, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overuse

1 of 2 verb

over·​use

-ˈyüz

: to use too much

an overused phrase

overuse

2 of 2 noun

over·​use

-ˈyüs

: too much use