overpopulate
verb
over·pop·u·late
ˌō-vər-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 
overpopulated; overpopulating; overpopulates
: to populate too densely : furnish or provide with more than the environment or market will bear
: to become overly populous
Examples of overpopulate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s evidence to suggest smoking could directly reduce your levels of helpful Lactobacillus bacteria, allowing for the BV-causing bugs to overpopulate.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 27 Feb. 2025
Plucking sponges from the reef prevents the glassy invertebrates from overpopulating and creates gaps in the reef where young corals can attach and grow.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish risk overpopulating certain areas of the world and disrupting marine ecosystems due to climate change.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Many community planning groups have been overpopulated by persons resistant to change.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for overpopulate
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Erica Sloan, SELF, 27 Feb. 2025
Plucking sponges from the reef prevents the glassy invertebrates from overpopulating and creates gaps in the reef where young corals can attach and grow.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish risk overpopulating certain areas of the world and disrupting marine ecosystems due to climate change.
—Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Many community planning groups have been overpopulated by persons resistant to change.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for overpopulate
Cite this Entry
“Overpopulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpopulate. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overpopulate
verb
over·pop·u·late
-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt
: to populate too densely : cause to have too great a population
the city was overpopulated and polluted
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