EXCESSIVE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'excessive' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of excessive are exorbitant , extravagant , extreme , immoderate , and inordinate . While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable. // excessive punishment

Q: When is 'exorbitant' a more appropriate choice than 'excessive'?

The words exorbitant and excessive can be used in similar contexts, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree. // exorbitant prices

Q: Where would 'extravagant' be a reasonable alternative to 'excessive'?

While the synonyms extravagant and excessive are close in meaning, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste. // extravagant claims for the product

Q: When might 'extreme' be a better fit than 'excessive'?

Although the words extreme and excessive have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree. // extreme shyness

Q: When can 'immoderate' be used instead of 'excessive'?

The words immoderate and excessive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint. // immoderate spending

Q: When is it sensible to use 'inordinate' instead of 'excessive'?

The meanings of inordinate and excessive largely overlap; however, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment. // inordinate pride

excessive

adjective

ik-ˈse-siv

Definition of excessive next

as in extreme

going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount nerdy hackers who spend an excessive amount of time sitting in front of their computers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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excessive amounts

extreme amounts

unnecessary amounts

copious amounts

unhealthy amounts

enormous amounts

excessive use

heavy use

frequent use

immoderate use

severe use

unnecessary use

excessive wear

extreme wear

significant wear

heavy wear

massive wear

considerable wear

Synonym Chooser

How is the word excessive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of excessive are exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When is exorbitant a more appropriate choice than excessive?

The words exorbitant and excessive can be used in similar contexts, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

Where would extravagant be a reasonable alternative to excessive?

While the synonyms extravagant and excessive are close in meaning, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When might extreme be a better fit than excessive?

Although the words extreme and excessive have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

When can immoderate be used instead of excessive?

The words immoderate and excessive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When is it sensible to use inordinate instead of excessive?

The meanings of inordinate and excessive largely overlap; however, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

Examples 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 excessive Urban planners are increasingly discovering that a viable solution to traffic congestion, long commute times and excessive vehicle emissions isn’t found at street level, but higher up. —

Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025 To meet excessive sales goals, thousands of Wells Fargo’s Community Bank employees opened millions of accounts and other financial products from 2002 to 2016 that were unauthorized or fraudulent. —

Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2025 That is denial of the consequences of excessive sovereign debt -- our own, or that of other lands. —

Amity Shlaes, National Review, 15 Jan. 2025 Officials gave a hazardous weather outlook for portions of north central and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana saying there is an excessive cold risk. —

Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for excessive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excessive

Adjective

In other words, the atmosphere gets more thirsty as the climate warms, drawing more moisture from plants, and leading to more days with extreme fire weather conditions.

Andrew Freedman, Axios, 12 Jan. 2025
Be realistic The most uncomfortable truth of the last few days has been how quickly firefighting efforts were overwhelmed and outmatched by the extreme fire conditions, Cohen said.

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025