overbroad

adjective

over·​broad ˌō-vər-ˈbrȯd How to pronounce overbroad (audio)
: too widely applicable or applied : excessively broad
an overbroad interpretation of the statute
… a litigant challenging an overbroad law …Laurence H. Tribe
… was reckless in its assignment of unnecessary and overbroad surveillance powers.The New York Times
But he tends, at times, to draw overbroad generalizations from his personal experience.Alexander Stille

Examples of overbroad 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.
Somewhere there is a happy medium to be found between the overbroad rules of the previous administration and the complete absence of rules for domestic companies that the present administration has now adopted. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 The president's advisors and employees are not exempt from the statutes Congress enacted to protect American citizens from overbroad and unnecessary access to their [personal information]. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025 Congress has figured out that the BOI reporting requirements are overbroad and are looking to modify the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which demands that Treasury and FINCEN do all this stuff, so as to more narrowly define the reporting companies and persons. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 However, this type of reform could also have a negative impact by chilling righteous lawsuits—those that challenge unconstitutional laws, or overbroad regulations or, even, as Trump himself has raged about, the weaponization of the judicial system. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for overbroad

Word History

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overbroad was in 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Overbroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overbroad. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

overbroad

adjective
over·​broad
ˌō-vər-ˈbrȯd
: not sufficiently restricted to a specific subject or purpose
an overbroad search
especially : characterized by a prohibition or chilling effect on constitutionally protected conduct
an overbroad statute
compare vague
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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