Definition of overkill
: to obliterate (a target) with more nuclear force than required
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Recent Examples of overkill from the Web
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These guys need nine lives, as much as they’ve been overkilled.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overkill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of overkill
1957
Definition of overkill
1
: a destructive capacity greatly exceeding that required for a given target
2
: an excess of something (such as a quantity or an action) beyond what is required or suitable for a particular purpose
- publicity overkill
- an overkill in weaponry
3
: killing in excess of what is intended or required
Examples of overkill in a Sentence
Yes, we need a new car, but this huge truck seems like overkill.
the song already borders on the maudlin—the addition of a syrupy string accompaniment would just be overkill
Recent Examples of overkill from the Web
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The rhetorical overkill used to describe a mediocre but well-intentioned presidency was so over-the-top it was parodied in a famous Simpsons bit: Carter was a Republican bogeyman in 1988, and when Bill Clinton came along.
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The sequence’s style, energy and Kim’s coiled glee save it from tipping into overkill.
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Adding group video calls to FaceTime has been a long time coming, and the new interface looks intuitive enough (even if support for up to 32 users seems like overkill).
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The Times spoke with Johnson and Thurber about the challenge of trying to bring back the old-school action movie in today’s era of Rotten Tomatoes scores, generally dwindling movie-star drawing power and comic-book franchise overkill.
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The new law, passed by the Senate in March and by the House on May 22, seeks to ease what critics say was regulatory overkill.
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The ceremonial start on the future home of the Louisville City FC soccer team was a study in overkill and humidity Thursday afternoon.
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The festival is to the music world what the town is to the rest of Southern California: a lovably eccentric jewel, a tiny explosion of beauty, weirdness and overkill.
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Full-on rain jackets are overkill, but throw a cheap fold-up poncho in your day pack.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overkill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of overkill
1957
overkill Synonyms
Synonyms
bellyful, excess, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overmuch, overplus, oversupply, plethora, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus;
Antonyms
Related Words
abundance, bounty, plentitude, plenty, profusion, sufficiency;
OVERKILL Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of overkill for English Language Learners
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: something that is much larger, greater, etc., than what is needed for a particular purpose
Learn More about overkill
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See words that rhyme with overkill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overkill Spanish Central: Translation of overkill Nglish: Translation of overkill for Spanish speakers
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