To save this word, you'll need to log in.
over·reg·u·late | \ ˌō-vər-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 
also -ˈrā- \
also -ˈrā- \overregulated; overregulating
Definition of overregulate
: to regulate (something) to an excessive degree
Hospitals bitterly oppose the passage of such laws, saying they oversimplify complex issues and overregulate an already struggling industry.— Tessa DeCarlo This tendency to overregulate, which results from political pressures …— Clark C. Havighurst
Other Words from overregulate
overregulation \ ˌō-vər-ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən , -ˌre-gə- also -ˌrā- \ noun
, -ˌre-gə- also -ˌrā- \ noun
… risked hurting the economy through overregulation. — Richard Brookhiser
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on overregulate
What made you want to look up overregulate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share overregulate
Time Traveler for overregulate
The first known use of overregulate was in 1881
See more words from the same year