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 But there is little evidence that consuming excessive amounts of water can prevent or treat altitude sickness. Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024 Consultation with healthcare professionals is vital before consuming excessive amounts of supplements, especially magnesium, to avoid adverse effects or potential interactions. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Concerned about abuses, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, which banned card companies from charging excessive penalty fees while establishing clearer disclosures. The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The ban on excessive credit card late fees is expected to be showcased by the White House later on Tuesday when President Joe Biden convenes his Competition Council. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Alleging that banks profit handsomely from excessive late fees, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has capped them at $8 for the largest card companies. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 The two military leaders are alleged to have directed attacks at civilian objects and caused excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects, both war crimes under the Rome Statue, the international treaty that founded the ICC. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 Any outlier in the data set, like excessive fees or agency costs compared with the company’s benchmark, can be systematically identified for a follow-up discussion. Bruno Gralpois, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Endogenous Cushing syndrome, the less common form of the disorder, is caused by factors within the body, such as excessive production of cortisol as a result of tumors. Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excessive.' 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

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near excessive

Cite this Entry

“Excessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excessive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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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