How to Use overly in a Sentence

overly

adverb
  • They didn't seem overly concerned about the problem.
  • These directions are overly complex.
  • She's overly sensitive to criticism.
  • If the blondies are overly gooey in the center, give them more time to bake.
    Emily Nabors Hall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
  • The shell of the comforter is somewhat soft, not overly stiff and starchy, and there’s no fluff to it at all.
    Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2024
  • Your bra should be snug but not overly tight, says Kendall.
    Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
  • The microfiber is soft but not overly hot, and can be thrown in the washing machine to clean.
    Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2023
  • The truth is that the question is overly simple, and there's no good answer.
    Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 8 Dec. 2023
  • The problem isn’t that young people are overly stressed.
    Allysia Finley, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
  • Keep in Mind The belt clip is overly stiff and difficult to use one-handed.
    Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2023
  • The idea is for the shelf to not look overly curated, or like a retail display.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2023
  • But even there most scouts do not sound overly concerned.
    Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2022
  • The acting, which can get overly broad, is more variable.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
  • The technique is not overly complex and has been done in the past with other vaccines.
    Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2022
  • Many drivers tend to overly rely on the system and check out.
    Tom Krisher, Fortune, 7 May 2024
  • Watch for flare-ups and make sure your chicken does not overly blacken.
    Mackensy Lunsford, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2022
  • The United States is the overly indulgent ally that ought to have stayed his heavy hand in Gaza.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
  • The design is very streamlined but perhaps overly simple for the $120 price point.
    Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
  • My croc brown leather boots meshed with the brown of the corset, keeping the look connected without overly matching.
    Nyla Stanford, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023
  • The pillow is firm, but not overly so, letting your head ease in, while still supporting the neck.
    Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022
  • The earthy matcha is complemented so nicely by the sweet cold foam — but still, the drink isn’t overly sugary.
    Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024
  • The sheets also didn’t become overly wrinkly after going through the wash—a nice plus.
    Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Without being overly rigid, write out what the special time looks like.
    Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
  • Corn casserole should have a pudding-like texture in the center, but not be overly mushy.
    Karen Schroeder-Rankin, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2023
  • Instead, Herta took what the race brought him and fought (but not overly so) to regain the lead after Dixon snagged it at the start of the second stint.
    Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 19 July 2022
  • The design is very streamlined but perhaps overly simple for the $120 [list price] price point.
    Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2023
  • Look out for long, overly specific URLs, sites that haven’t been around for very long and offers that seem too good to be true.
    Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023
  • As a rule of thumb, a hand should be able to slide under, but the sweater shouldn’t necessarily be overly drapey.
    Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2023
  • This trade isn’t an overly costly misstep, though, because the Rangers can retain some of Smith’s salary and recoup an asset or two by selling him at the deadline as a rental.
    Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Cannon, a Trump nominee, is a controversial figure already because of a series of rulings that critics charge have been overly sympathetic to the president-elect.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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