as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
The writing was great, but some of the acting was over-the-top.
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Recent Examples of over-the-top
Entire blockbuster films recount the ins and outs of over-the-top hangovers.
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Lance Eliot, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
His film combines the over-the-top tradition of German Expressionism and the later, divergently realistic German New Wave movement, in which Herzog was a key player.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The finishing layer of crispy tater tots put this recipe over-the-top.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
What started as salami and a little bit of cheese from the deli blossomed into over-the-top sandwiches.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for over-the-top 
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
His film combines the over-the-top tradition of German Expressionism and the later, divergently realistic German New Wave movement, in which Herzog was a key player.
—Jason Bailey, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The finishing layer of crispy tater tots put this recipe over-the-top.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
What started as salami and a little bit of cheese from the deli blossomed into over-the-top sandwiches.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
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Causes Depending on the type, blisters can be caused by excessive force or injury to the skin, heat, moisture, friction, fractures, and certain health conditions.Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024
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Interestingly, orexin deficiency is a leading cause of narcolepsy, a sleep disorder marked by episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness.Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Your voice is insane.Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com, al, 4 Apr. 2023
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But obviously winning the grand jury prize was insane.Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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In December 2019, the Angolan Embassy hosted an extravagant event at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art to commemorate the 1619 anniversary.Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
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Families who had given their sons and their future to the regime survived on bread and tea while Assad’s inner circle and other high officials flaunted their wealth on Instagram—luxury cars, seaside mansions, extravagant weddings.Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics, Author, and Philosopher The biggest reason to be optimistic about 2025 is the continuing decline in extreme poverty, defined as not being able to reliably meet your basic needs for food and shelter.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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Jim Clash covers extreme adventure and classic rock.Jim Clash, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near over-the-top
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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