overuse

1 of 2

verb

over·​use ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 

overused; overusing

transitive verb

: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently

a word that has been greatly overused

At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.

—Marilyn Chase

overuse

2 of 2

noun

over·​use ˌō-vər-ˈyüs 

: too much use : excessive or too frequent use

the overuse of antibiotics

athletes suffering from overuse injuries

His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.

—Frederick Kaufman

Synonyms of overuse

Verb

• stereotype
• overexpose
• popularize
• vulgarize
• exhaust
• overdo
• bore

Examples of overuse in a Sentence

Verb

she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But 1984 is continuously overused by fans as evidence of what the program can achieve. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Schleicher pointed to China, Japan, Singapore and Estonia as countries that have succeeded in using AI to support learning without overusing it. — Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

Antibiotic overuse remains common for other conditions of later life, too, including the kind of urinary tract infections that cause no troublesome symptoms and upper respiratory infections that are typically viral, not bacterial. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

But even alkaline garden soil may become acidic over time as a result of environmental factors, such as acid rain, or the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and other soil amendments. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overuse

• avenues
• barbecues
• cockatoos
• interviews
• kangaroos
• obliquus
• overshoes
• overviews
• residues
• revenues
• tyrannus
• accrues

Kids Definition

overuse

1 of 2 verb

over·​use

-ˈyüz

: to use too much

an overused phrase

overuse

2 of 2 noun

over·​use

-ˈyüs

: too much use