excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈse-siv How to pronounce excessive (audio)
: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal
excessively adverb
excessiveness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for excessive

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of excessive in a Sentence

an excessive display of wealth High fever, nausea, and excessive sweating are some of the symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Shifting From Reactive To Proactive Security: Organizations often spend excessive time reacting to rather than preventing threats. Bojan Šimić, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Watch for excessive panting, lagging behind, or stumbling. Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 1 July 2025 Missouri’s Felony Murder Statute is overly broad, often misused, and excessive. Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025 The Kansas City metro area and surrounding areas to the north are under a flood watch until 1 p.m., as excessive runoff may lead to flooding. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for excessive

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excessive was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Excessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excessive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

excessive

adjective
ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈses-iv How to pronounce excessive (audio)
: showing excess : too much
excessively adverb
excessiveness noun

Legal Definition

excessive

adjective
ex·​ces·​sive
: exceeding what is proper, necessary, or normal
specifically : being out of proportion to the offense
excessive bail

More from Merriam-Webster on excessive

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