as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
the song already borders on the maudlin—the addition of a syrupy string accompaniment would just be overkill
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Recent Examples of overkill
Overwhelming Users Automation fails with one word: overkill.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Mark Strong’s menacing villain is a bit of a drip, and the finale devolves into CG overkill.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The numbers seem to add up to internal-combustion-engine overkill and intimidation, especially in a rear-wheel-drive sports car.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
Mindful of potential overkill, or of drowning out Simon’s fragile voice, the collective let the arrangements breathe and valued the spaces between notes.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Mark Strong’s menacing villain is a bit of a drip, and the finale devolves into CG overkill.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025
The numbers seem to add up to internal-combustion-engine overkill and intimidation, especially in a rear-wheel-drive sports car.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
Mindful of potential overkill, or of drowning out Simon’s fragile voice, the collective let the arrangements breathe and valued the spaces between notes.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overkill
Noun
-
He is credited with the key leadership role in creating Palm Springs’ Measure J, a 1% sales tax increase that helped to fund a $200 million downtown revitalization program and providing a surplus of $12 million per year to rebuild the city’s infrastructure.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
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The bigger risk is OPEC+ deciding to reinstate supply cuts, given concerns about a surplus.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The ruling landed as a symbolic rebuke of Musk’s sway over Tesla, and a warning about the excesses of Silicon Valley’s cult-of-founder ethos.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
An excess of dry fuels and vegetation is compounded by fire weather conditions that are becoming more common year-round.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This would prevent combined sewer overflows, which is when sewage floods area stormwater lines and deposits into local waterbodies.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Trosclair advises against using your bathroom for closet overflow or for storing out-of-season clothes that won’t be touched for months until the weather shifts.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overkill. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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