as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
The writing was great, but some of the acting was over-the-top.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of over-the-top
Stir cocoa powder, coffee, and cinnamon into the batter and layer with a package of dark chocolate chips for over-the-top chocolate taste.
—
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Her most over-the-top travel experience came courtesy of a trip to Dubai with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where the cast stayed in an enormous villa.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Chris Cooper, 'Adaptation' (2003) Cooper goes all in with an over-the-top personality in this very strange meta dramedy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
All 104 matches will also be shown on Peacock, NBC’s over-the-top streaming service.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Her most over-the-top travel experience came courtesy of a trip to Dubai with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where the cast stayed in an enormous villa.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Chris Cooper, 'Adaptation' (2003) Cooper goes all in with an over-the-top personality in this very strange meta dramedy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
All 104 matches will also be shown on Peacock, NBC’s over-the-top streaming service.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
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Sahil was initially charged with DUI causing injury and vehicular manslaughter, along with enhancements for causing great bodily injury, having an excessive blood-alcohol content and circumstances in aggravation.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the Police Department says an internal affairs investigation determined the claims of excessive force were unfounded.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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However, recent warmer temperatures this winter and extreme wind events have beaten down the wildflowers and signaled that summer is approaching, which can deplete the bloom, according to Fraga.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Pakistan has announced extreme austerity measures, South Korea is introducing its first fuel price cap in almost 30 years, and G7 ministers met to discuss potentially releasing strategic oil reserves.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike Jekyll and Sea Islands—with their extravagant homes, ritzy resorts, and golf courses—the true luxury of LSSI is the unfettered nature.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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The gift bag—which is actually a small suitcase—includes everything from extravagant vacations to home renovations to tasty snacks.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Stewie’s miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable… until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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But Sean Penn was so out there and insane.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The steep financial barriers to postsecondary education need to be eliminated.—
Megan Thiele Strong,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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Arlington saw the steepest rise of local cities, with its cost of living increasing more than 4%.—
Sasha Richie,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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He was voted back into his post in 2021 when the club was in a dire economic situation after the lavish spending on players by president Josep Bartomeu and the financial hit of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The couple was married in Hawaii in 2022 in a lavish ceremony.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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