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 Most carbon monoxide toxicity victims breathe in excessive levels of this invisible gas without even knowing, which is why homes should have carbon monoxide detectors installed. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024 Its rich protein content can lead to excessive calorie intake if consumed in large amounts. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 29 Oct. 2024 Fires can be caused by overcharging, overheating, physical damage or product defects, which trigger a process known as thermal runaway — where excessive heat inside a battery creates a self-sustaining chemical reaction that can then easily spread to adjacent batteries. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 The 49-year-old from Westwood, Massachusetts forced or attempted to force five men and one woman to do excessive labor at his shop, Stash's Pizza, by abusing them and repeatedly threatening to contact immigration authorities, according to the Justice Department. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for excessive 

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 3 Nov. 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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