overzealous

adjective

over·​zeal·​ous ˌō-vər-ˈze-ləs 

: too zealous : having or showing too much zeal : excessively eager, enthusiastic, or fervent

overzealous parents

overzealous workers

… another version of the overzealous monitoring that has produced kids who leave for college without ever having crossed the street by themselves.

—Peggy Orenstein

The village saw the orders as unwarranted interference from an overzealous state bureaucracy and promptly appealed.

—Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown

overzealously adverb

… has been frequently accused by its critics of acting recklessly, overzealously, and even, at times, illegally.

—Steve Lustgarden

overzealousness noun

Jewell was annoyed that press descriptions of him always emphasized his "overzealousness"; he considers himself a man of details.

—Marie Brenner

Examples of overzealous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement America is not merely witnessing overzealous immigration enforcement but a systematic expansion of government overreach. —Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026

Will the hype cost us dearly when the widespread narrative is recognized as overzealous and disillusionment sets in? —Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

There are times when music greatness gets left in the vault thanks to overzealous leakers. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Jan. 2026

Moïse’s assassination Haitians have reasons to be wary of an overzealous security chief. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overzealous

• bellis
• felis
• fellas
• jealous
• pelisse
• trellis
• zealous
• michaelis
• nucellus
• ocellus