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
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Where younger adults tend to become isolated after overusing smartphones, older adults tend to turn to phones after cognitive declines or being isolated from family and friends.
—Emily Kwong, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Converting dirt fields to artificial turf could allow for longer youth sports seasons, Piattoni said, as soccer fields in particular are susceptible to overuse during rainy days.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overuse
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Verb
Dallas’ blue line has more depth in terms of numbers, but its top three producers have been overused.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
Where younger adults tend to become isolated after overusing smartphones, older adults tend to turn to phones after cognitive declines or being isolated from family and friends.
—Emily Kwong, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
So, overuse can cause dryness or sensitivity.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
Converting dirt fields to artificial turf could allow for longer youth sports seasons, Piattoni said, as soccer fields in particular are susceptible to overuse during rainy days.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 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 9 Mar. 2026.
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