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

Before adding another one, remember that overusing them can cause health and skin problems in the long term. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024

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

Noun

Arizona’s yearly deliveries from the Colorado River, which makes up roughly 40% of Phoenix’s water supply, are becoming harder to predict as states figure out how to manage lower flows and overuse. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024

Unlike Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which burned out in primetime because of overuse (but found a loyal audience for a number of years in daytime syndication), Greed was abruptly canceled by Fox after just one season for reasons unknown to this writer. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 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