overtreat
verb
over·treat
ˌō-vər-ˈtrēt 
overtreated; overtreating
: to treat (something or someone) more than necessary or usual: such as
a
: to give or administer excessive medical treatment to (someone) or for (something)
overtreating older patients
overtreating low-grade prostate cancers
doctors who routinely overtreat with antibiotics
b
: to subject (something) to treatment or handling too often or for too long
overtreated hair
These wines lacked fruit concentration, which suggests they had been overtreated or filtered before bottling.—
James Suckling
James SucklingExamples of overtreat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Starting in the 1980s, DRGs changed how Medicare pays hospitals.2 What Is the Impact of DRGs on Health Care? The DRG payment system encourages hospitals to be more efficient and reduces their incentive to overtreat you.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Mar. 2023
Use minimal amounts of pesticides and don’t overtreat.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2022
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Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Mar. 2023
Use minimal amounts of pesticides and don’t overtreat.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Overtreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtreat. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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