overactive
adjective
over·ac·tive
ˌō-vər-ˈak-tiv 
: excessively or abnormally active
overactive glands
an overactive imagination
Synonyms
Examples of overactive in a Sentence
She has an overactive bladder.
His crazy ideas are products of an overactive imagination.
Recent Examples on the Web
Additionally, hormones can also be responsible for oil regulation, whether that be overactive or under-producing sebaceous glands.
—
Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
Some scientists suggest that long COVID is caused by overactive immune cells, but the exact cause remains unclear.
—Ashley Riegle, ABC News, 24 Jan. 2024
Allergies are the result of an active or overactive immune system.
—Caroline Silver, Parents, 19 Oct. 2023
Other topical creams contain medicines that calm your overactive immune response.17 For severe cases of eczema, a healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications.
—Andrea Stanley, Health, 4 Mar. 2024
His team observed overactive B-cell genes in female ME/CFS participants.
—Kamal Nahas, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2024
The good news is that drugs that try to calm down an overactive complement system are already on the market and in development for other conditions.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2024
Anandamide plays a number of roles throughout the body, including sensory and pain modulation, and increased levels are expected to desensitize overactive sensory neurons in the upper airways of chronic cough patients, limiting the urge to cough.
—Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
As a child with an overactive imagination who struggled to stay organized and to wait her turn, Edwards had a hard time learning as her classmates did.
—Angela Roberts, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2024
Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
Some scientists suggest that long COVID is caused by overactive immune cells, but the exact cause remains unclear.
—Ashley Riegle, ABC News, 24 Jan. 2024
Allergies are the result of an active or overactive immune system.
—Caroline Silver, Parents, 19 Oct. 2023
Other topical creams contain medicines that calm your overactive immune response.17 For severe cases of eczema, a healthcare provider may prescribe oral medications.
—Andrea Stanley, Health, 4 Mar. 2024
His team observed overactive B-cell genes in female ME/CFS participants.
—Kamal Nahas, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2024
The good news is that drugs that try to calm down an overactive complement system are already on the market and in development for other conditions.
—Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2024
Anandamide plays a number of roles throughout the body, including sensory and pain modulation, and increased levels are expected to desensitize overactive sensory neurons in the upper airways of chronic cough patients, limiting the urge to cough.
—Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
As a child with an overactive imagination who struggled to stay organized and to wait her turn, Edwards had a hard time learning as her classmates did.
—Angela Roberts, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overactive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1647, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near overactive
Cite this Entry
“Overactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overactive. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
overactive
adjective
over·ac·tive
ˌō-və-ˈrak-tiv
: very active and especially abnormally so
an overactive thyroid
Medical Definition
overactive
adjective
over·ac·tive
ˌō-və-ˈrak-tiv
: excessively or abnormally active
an overactive mind
overactive glands
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