overexploit
verb
over·ex·ploit
ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsplȯit 
-ˈek-ˌsplȯit
overexploited; overexploiting
: to exploit (something, such as a natural resource) to an excessive degree
More than half of the fish stocks in the region are being overexploited.—
Greenpeace.org
Greenpeace.org… the future costs of overexploiting the aquifers …—Exequiel Ezcurra and Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
Exequiel Ezcurra and Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
overexploitation
noun
plural overexploitations
… overexploitation and pollution pose serious threats to both sharks and rays.
—Kelly Marion
Kelly Marion
Examples of overexploit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The loss of rainfall is putting greater stress on already overexploited aquifers and depleted reservoirs.
—Jordan Kinard, Scientific American, 15 Feb. 2023
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.
Jordan Kinard, Scientific American, 15 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Overexploit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overexploit. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share