How to Use overly in a Sentence
overly
adverb- They didn't seem overly concerned about the problem.
- These directions are overly complex.
- She's overly sensitive to criticism.
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If the blondies are overly gooey in the center, give them more time to bake.
—Emily Nabors Hall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
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At first the song got overly Bond-fied, which has to happen.
—Lily Moayeri, Variety, 24 Feb. 2022
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The shell of the comforter is somewhat soft, not overly stiff and starchy, and there’s no fluff to it at all.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2024
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Your bra should be snug but not overly tight, says Kendall.
—Jasmine Gomez, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
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The microfiber is soft but not overly hot, and can be thrown in the washing machine to clean.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2023
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The truth is that the question is overly simple, and there's no good answer.
—Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 8 Dec. 2023
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The problem isn’t that young people are overly stressed.
—Allysia Finley, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
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Keep in Mind The belt clip is overly stiff and difficult to use one-handed.
—Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2023
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The idea is for the shelf to not look overly curated, or like a retail display.
—Ariel Okin, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2023
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For a few years in the 2010s, Pixar seemed to be growing overly reliant on sequels.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 11 Mar. 2022
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But even there most scouts do not sound overly concerned.
—Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2022
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The acting, which can get overly broad, is more variable.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
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The technique is not overly complex and has been done in the past with other vaccines.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2022
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Many drivers tend to overly rely on the system and check out.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 7 May 2024
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The town of Arden, while overly chatty, has more to offer.
—ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
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Watch for flare-ups and make sure your chicken does not overly blacken.
—Mackensy Lunsford, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2022
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On that day, Onishchuk wasn’t overly concerned that he hadn’t been paid yet.
—Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 8 July 2022
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The United States is the overly indulgent ally that ought to have stayed his heavy hand in Gaza.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024
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The flight screen is a little more confusing, but not overly so.
—Christian De Looper, BGR, 1 June 2022
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The design is very streamlined but perhaps overly simple for the $120 price point.
—Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
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My croc brown leather boots meshed with the brown of the corset, keeping the look connected without overly matching.
—Nyla Stanford, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2023
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The leather seats are patterned and comfortable, but not overly stuffed.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2022
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The pillow is firm, but not overly so, letting your head ease in, while still supporting the neck.
—Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022
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The earthy matcha is complemented so nicely by the sweet cold foam — but still, the drink isn’t overly sugary.
—Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024
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The sheets also didn’t become overly wrinkly after going through the wash—a nice plus.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024
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Many climbing plants can be overly aggressive or invasive.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
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Thankfully, Nikki wasn't overly offended and knew her mom's comment wasn't meant maliciously.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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