over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 
overused; overusing
: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently
a word that has been greatly overused
At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüs
: too much use : excessive or too frequent use
the overuse of antibiotics
athletes suffering from overuse injuries
His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.—Frederick Kaufman
Frederick KaufmanExamples of overuse in a Sentence
Verb
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Andrew Cunningham Andrew Cunningham Adding some additional infill can add some strength to prints, though 15 percent usually gives a decent amount of strength without overusing filament.
—ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025
Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Typically the collapse hasn’t happened until the second half, but right now the Red Sox bullpen is already showing dangerous signs of overuse.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
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.
Verb
One common flaw in many golfers’ putting strokes is overusing the hands and wrists.
—Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Andrew Cunningham Andrew Cunningham Adding some additional infill can add some strength to prints, though 15 percent usually gives a decent amount of strength without overusing filament.
—ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025
Noun
Thanks to its production and overuse of fossil fuels, the U.S. is a major contributor to greenhouse gases responsible for climate change that has thrown many Central Americans off their land.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Typically the collapse hasn’t happened until the second half, but right now the Red Sox bullpen is already showing dangerous signs of overuse.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overuse. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share