overtax
verb
over·tax
ˌō-vər-ˈtaks 
overtaxed; overtaxing
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.
Marc Levinson et al.
overtaxation
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
Eric Ryan
Examples of overtax in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As an alternative to repayment, Sheffield in 2022 led the creation of a package of city programmatic and discount offerings for those who were overtaxed, like half-off Detroit Land Bank Authority homes and first dibs on affordable housing.
—Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
In order to meet the needs of each individual customer and prevent overtaxing the nascent production system, the company is adopting a policy of incremental output increases.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Worse, China, a starving Maoist hellscape in 1965 beginning its Cultural Revolution, now is a computing powerhouse giving no quarter to a U.S. state that overtaxes its companies and whose K-12 schools can’t produce adequate STEM graduates.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Anytime there’s a federal budgetary surplus (which sounds laughable), Congress may conclude that past lawmakers have overtaxed their constituents such that a prompt return of the excess revenue is justified.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overtax
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Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
In order to meet the needs of each individual customer and prevent overtaxing the nascent production system, the company is adopting a policy of incremental output increases.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Worse, China, a starving Maoist hellscape in 1965 beginning its Cultural Revolution, now is a computing powerhouse giving no quarter to a U.S. state that overtaxes its companies and whose K-12 schools can’t produce adequate STEM graduates.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Anytime there’s a federal budgetary surplus (which sounds laughable), Congress may conclude that past lawmakers have overtaxed their constituents such that a prompt return of the excess revenue is justified.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overtax
Cite this Entry
“Overtax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtax. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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