over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 
overused; overusing
: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently
a word that has been greatly overused
At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüs
: too much use : excessive or too frequent use
the overuse of antibiotics
athletes suffering from overuse injuries
His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.—Frederick Kaufman
Frederick KaufmanExamples of overuse in a Sentence
Verb
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
Recent Examples on the Web
Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
According to the Cleveland Clinic, vocal cord lesions are growths that form on the vocal cords, typically as a result of a person overusing or misusing their voice.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
Environmental experts and lawmakers say water is becoming a scarce resource as the Texas population grows, depleted by overuse, persistent dry weather, rising temperatures, aging infrastructure and water-reliant technology like data centers.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overuse
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Verb
Their answers, unsurprisingly, skew toward once-trending hues that now feel tired and overused.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
According to the Cleveland Clinic, vocal cord lesions are growths that form on the vocal cords, typically as a result of a person overusing or misusing their voice.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Benefits of Quitting Caffeine There are risks associated with drinking too much caffeine, especially with long-term overuse.
—Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
Environmental experts and lawmakers say water is becoming a scarce resource as the Texas population grows, depleted by overuse, persistent dry weather, rising temperatures, aging infrastructure and water-reliant technology like data centers.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overuse. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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