overexploit

verb

over·ex·ploit ˌō-vər-ik-ˈsplȯit

-ˈek-ˌsplȯit

overexploited; overexploiting

transitive verb

: 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

… the future costs of overexploiting the aquifers …—

Exequiel Ezcurra and Marisa Mazari-Hiriart

overexploitation

ˌō-vər-ˌek-ˌsplȯi-ˈtā-shən

noun

plural overexploitations

… overexploitation and pollution pose serious threats to both sharks and rays. —

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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overexploit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.