as in popularized
to use so much as to make less appealing
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 overused
The redemption story is overused in sports, but Anisimova coming back from a double-bagel Wimbledon final defeat against Iga Świątek to beat the same player a couple of months later was extraordinary.
—
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Just like credit scores today, which are, at best, meaningful heuristics but are grossly overused, the technology sometimes became a substitute for common sense.
—Brian Hamilton, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The word timeless can sometimes be overused in fashion, but this is that word in action.
—Libby Page, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
For those with sensitive skin — or if overused — AHAs can compromise the skin barrier, causing redness and irritation.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Reddit users, bloggers and researchers have compiled a list of words and phrases most overused by ChatGPT.
—Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Side effects can vary based on your overall condition and the specific vitamin or supplement overused.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
While an important tool in the toolbox, stop, question and frisk clearly had been overused, and abused.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Just like credit scores today, which are, at best, meaningful heuristics but are grossly overused, the technology sometimes became a substitute for common sense.
—Brian Hamilton, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The word timeless can sometimes be overused in fashion, but this is that word in action.
—Libby Page, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
For those with sensitive skin — or if overused — AHAs can compromise the skin barrier, causing redness and irritation.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Reddit users, bloggers and researchers have compiled a list of words and phrases most overused by ChatGPT.
—Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Side effects can vary based on your overall condition and the specific vitamin or supplement overused.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
While an important tool in the toolbox, stop, question and frisk clearly had been overused, and abused.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overused
Verb
-
United’s decade-plus of footballing dysfunction owes a partial debt to hiring processes that can make sense in the moment, but leave head coaches overexposed.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
If most of your liabilities reprice simultaneously, you’re overexposed.—
Meelan Gupta,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With all other options seemingly exhausted, Una and Spock decide to take another path by getting in touch with their crewmates’ katras, roughly the Vulcan term for the soul, though the Vulcans would probably not want to use that term.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The group exhausted legal remedies after a February 2025 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling that upheld a 2021 Metro Council vote to strip the building of its local landmark status, clearing the way for demolition.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This is, of course, a tremendously unfair characterization of the lunch lady, who, given her profession of feeding hungry children, ought to be stereotyped as saintly rather than monstrous.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Women are often stereotyped as less decisive than men, but, in reality, studies show that women and men are equally capable of making decisions quickly.—
Kim Elsesser,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Davis and his crew got bored and went to the liquor store.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The first instinct when bored at work is to search for a new job.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overused. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share