overharvest
verb
over·har·vest
ˌō-vər-ˈhär-vəst 
overharvested; overharvesting
: to harvest (something) excessively and especially to a harmful degree
overharvesting oysters to the point of depletion
It would therefore be in the common interest of all consumers to exercise restraint and not overharvest.—
Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond
Examples of overharvest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t overharvest or deplete.
—Kristina Rizga, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2020
Additionally, the dolphins are threatened by pollution, and commercial fishing operations overharvest the mullet.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2023
Kristina Rizga, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2020
Additionally, the dolphins are threatened by pollution, and commercial fishing operations overharvest the mullet.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overharvest.' 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
1972, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near overharvest
Cite this Entry
“Overharvest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overharvest. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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