overqualified

adjective

over·​qual·​i·​fied ˌō-vər-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd 

: having more education, training, or experience than a job calls for

Examples of overqualified in a Sentence

They didn't hire her because she was overqualified for the job.

Recent Examples on the Web

Social media is rife with frustrated job seekers submitting hundreds of applications with no callbacks and overqualified candidates desperately throwing resumes at entry-level positions. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, overqualified singers like Ravyn Lenae, Mustafa, and Omar Apollo do some of the background vocal riffs that Harlow’s limited range won’t reach. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026

Learning from Jeff Bezos Blackburn, 57, is a little overqualified to be running the Tennis Channel, which generated sales last year of just $265 million. —Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026

Conveniently, 2025 All-Star guard Tyler Herro is around to fill Powell’s vacant role instead of being an overqualified sixth man. —Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overqualified

• acetaldehyde
• acetanilide
• arabinoside
• cycloheximide
• cyclophosphamide
• diethylamide
• dinucleotide
• ferricyanide
• ferrocyanide
• glutaraldehyde
• glyceraldehyde
• hydroperoxide