as in extra
being over what is needed
any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lay off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of excess
Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Spartan’s anti-inflammatory ingredients soothe irritation, reduce excess oil buildup, and eliminate dandruff.
—Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2025
But Harry and Meghan appear to possess no qualities in enthralling excess.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Adjective
If the primary issue is excess skin in the upper lids and puffiness in the lower lids, then upper and lower blepharoplasty would be the most effective solution.
—Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Spartan’s anti-inflammatory ingredients soothe irritation, reduce excess oil buildup, and eliminate dandruff.
—Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
There’s a desire to punish excess, and unfortunately, that leads to very homogenous filmmaking from the studios.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2025
But Harry and Meghan appear to possess no qualities in enthralling excess.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excess
Adjective
-
This costs $200 extra, and uses tiny cameras to monitor your eye position.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Everything had a little something extra at her events.—
Gillian Telling,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The province generates enough power to sell its surplus to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, providing light to about 1.5 million U.S. homes and businesses.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
If every country in the world had a surplus, who would have the deficit?—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
For example, Johns Hopkins University is having to lay off over 2,000 people after $800 million in grants to the institution’s investigators were basically yanked, as Kanishka Singh reported for Reuters.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
-
According to a memo circulated among agency heads and previously reported by USA TODAY, the VA plans to lay off at least 76,000 more workers, which lawmakers and advocates fear could devastate the already short-staffed agency.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA TODAY,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
On the International Space Station, astronauts use 3D printers to make tools and spare parts, such as ratchet wrenches, clamps and brackets.—
Sven Bilén,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2025
-
AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, bought 150 aircraft, helicopters and spare engines last year from Boeing, Kelly added.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Then, on Thursday, Kiir sacked the governor of Upper Nile State, who hailed from Machar's party.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
-
And now 10 engineers charged with developing the AI have been sacked and the fate of the project has been thrown into doubt, staff told Forbes.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, certain aspects could have been trimmed for more condensed viewing, including a flashback to Cordelia’s birding vacation.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Combining layoffs and other types of departures, the Trump administration has trimmed the department's workforce from 4,133 to 2,183 since the start of his second term.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In other instances, including the president's attempt to invoke the wartime Alien Enemies Act to remove certain migrants, judges have issued temporary restraining orders that prevent enforcement of a policy, typically for 14 days, to allow for further proceedings.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2025
-
McCall underwent a six-hour operation back in November to remove the 14mm benign cyst from her brain.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The brothers are anticipating a range of tenants at The Olmsted Farmington, with a strong emphasis on young professionals drawn to the nearby UConn health science corridor as well as homeowners downsizing.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2025
-
As departments across the federal government in the Trump administration rapidly downsize their workforces, one office keeps getting bigger.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excess. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share