excessive

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈse-siv 

: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal

excessively adverb

excessiveness noun

excessiveness

2 of 2

noun

ex·​ces·​sive·​ness

-sivnə̇s, 

-sēv- also -səv-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being excessive

the townspeople chafed under the excessiveness of the tax imposed on them

Synonyms of excessive

Adjective

• extreme
• extravagant
• insane
• steep
• lavish

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

Adjective

an excessive display of wealth

High fever, nausea, and excessive sweating are some of the symptoms.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Too much iron can be dangerous, and excessive vitamin D may lead to high calcium levels and other complications. —Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 18 June 2026

Study author Alexandros Vgontzas, MD, director of the Sleep Research and Treatment Center at Penn State College of Medicine, told Health the results suggest that excessive daytime sleepiness and prolonged sleep latency may be important risk factors for hypertension. —Zoe Cunniffe, Health, 18 June 2026

Stress in plants can arise from various factors, including excessive or insufficient watering, extreme temperatures, diseases, and insect damage. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

For years, burnout has been blamed on excessive workloads, endless meetings and the pressure to remain constantly connected. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excessive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

Kids Definition

excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈses-iv 

: 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