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excessive amounts
extreme amounts
unnecessary amounts
copious amounts
unhealthy amounts
enormous amounts
excessive use
excessive wear
extreme wear
heavy wear
massive wear

Synonym Chooser

How is the word excessive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of excessive are exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When is exorbitant a more appropriate choice than excessive?

The words exorbitant and excessive can be used in similar contexts, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

Where would extravagant be a reasonable alternative to excessive?

While the synonyms extravagant and excessive are close in meaning, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When might extreme be a better fit than excessive?

Although the words extreme and excessive have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

When can immoderate be used instead of excessive?

The words immoderate and excessive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When is it sensible to use inordinate instead of excessive?

The meanings of inordinate and excessive largely overlap; however, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of excessive Flood warnings are in effect through 11 a.m. Wednesday for Allegany County, Maryland to Mineral County, West Virginia, with small streams flooding due to excessive rainfall. Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 14 May 2025 Much like the overbuilding in the real estate sector that triggered a crisis and erased much of Chinese household wealth, excessive industrial capacity has deepened imbalances in the economy and raised questions about the model’s sustainability, particularly if broader conditions worsen. Li Yuan, New York Times, 13 May 2025 But excessive use, especially among adolescents, can impact memory, academic performance, and mental health. Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 Haley was found guilty on all counts — using excessive force, being deliberately indifferent, witness tampering and conspiracy to witness tamper. Jack Armstrong, USA Today, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for excessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excessive
Adjective
  • Thriving after having faced extreme adversity is core to Marine Electric Systems culture, and to the US Navy itself.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • That menagerie is a bit extreme for a race car driver, but van Gisbergen isn’t the only animal lover on the NASCAR circuit.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • On Tuesday, May 13, Trump's visit included a coffee ceremony, participation in a Saudi-U.S investment forum, a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an extravagant state dinner.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The family has plowed some of their wealth into an extravagant fleet of roughly a dozen Airbus and Boeing airliners converted into luxurious rides for a small number of passengers, as well as smaller business jets from Bombardier and Dassault.
    Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.
    Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Idaho residents’ property taxes have seen steep increases amid the area’s rapid population growth in recent years, especially in the Treasure Valley, the Statesman previously reported.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2025
  • Constellation, which Berkshire first invested in during the fourth quarter of 2024, recently came under pressure after President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on Mexican imports.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • However, prosecutors at the time said the brothers’ motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings.
    Nicole Acosta, People.com, 9 May 2025
  • The attorney defending Diddy on charges that stem from lavish parties filled with alcohol actually leads a clean lifestyle.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Excessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excessive. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on excessive

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