overtax

verb

over·​tax ˌō-vər-ˈtaks 

overtaxed; overtaxing

transitive verb

1

: to tax (someone or something) too heavily or beyond what is due

revenues raised through overtaxing the middle class

2

: to lay too heavy a burden or demand upon (someone or something)

exercises that overtax the muscles

overtaxing my patience

A fancy terminal with enough gates for all the planes, a work force that is alternately overtaxed and underemployed, and a high-tech baggage system all create high fixed costs.

—Marc Levinson et al.

overtaxation

ˌō-vər-tak-ˈsā-shən 

noun

Homelessness is worse here than anywhere in the country. The cost of living is out of control. Overtaxation is rampant. Infrastructure is crumbling.

—Eric Ryan

Examples of overtax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Recent polling has indicated that Californians feel overtaxed, which would have helped the measure’s backers potentially win in November. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024

Key among all the designs, therefore, is minimizing weight to avoid overtaxing the batteries—the weakest link among eVTOL systems—especially during takeoffs and while hovering. —Steven Ashley, Scientific American, 14 June 2024

But the nation’s electrical grid is aging and overtaxed in some areas. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 30 May 2024

Soon, she was tasked with figuring out how to transition an entire company to remote work, provide mental health support for employees, and make sure staff didn’t overtax themselves as work and personal time blended. —Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1