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

In the winter months, particularly, the skin barrier is often compromised by colder temperatures and fluctuating central heating anyway, so avoid being too overzealous with your glycolic, especially if trying it for the first time. —Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2025

Despite all the talent and acrobatic plays on the field, the game was marred by overzealous officiating. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025

It can now also be defined as the dictionary’s 2025 Word of the Year, thanks, at least in part, to Taylor Swift‘s engagement to Travis Kelce, streamer iShowSpeed blocking an overzealous fan, and widespread controversies involving AI chatbots. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025

Bernard Fox portrayed the overzealous fighter pilot Captain Winston Havelock. —Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025

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