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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Recent Examples of over-the-top
Still, videos of her from throughout the night have been shared by users attempting to frame her enthusiasm during the show, and her later frustration with security, as over-the-top.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
Nicholson's fireworks would be subsequently aped, and amped up to over-the-top proportions, by other actors and by the future Batman villain himself.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Writer/director Cregger previously told IndieWire that Madigan insisted on doing almost all of her own stunts for the film, including in the over-the-top, climactic chase sequence that involved a lot of running and crashing into walls and through windows.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2026
Instead, The Standard, Ibiza, presents itself as a bolthole for an in-the-know, sophisticated, and louche crowd that wants a bit of buzz but without any over-the-top hoopla.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
Nicholson's fireworks would be subsequently aped, and amped up to over-the-top proportions, by other actors and by the future Batman villain himself.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Writer/director Cregger previously told IndieWire that Madigan insisted on doing almost all of her own stunts for the film, including in the over-the-top, climactic chase sequence that involved a lot of running and crashing into walls and through windows.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2026
Instead, The Standard, Ibiza, presents itself as a bolthole for an in-the-know, sophisticated, and louche crowd that wants a bit of buzz but without any over-the-top hoopla.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
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Auditors said other warning signs for potential fraud included multiple hospices in one building, geographic clustering, low patient counts, high rates of terminally ill patients later discharged alive, excessive billing and staff shared across multiple companies.—
Adam Yamaguchi,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Three deaths by low blood sodium — two resulting from men with mental illness drinking excessive amounts of water in their cells, a rare and avoidable condition, while the third was likely the same cause.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Erin Lee Opponents, however, call the measure extreme and its language deceptive.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Scientists and researchers warn that climate change is shaping people’s daily life in increasingly extreme ways, from whiplash swings between very wet and very dry seasons to earlier springs, more frequent heat waves and shrinking snowpacks.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There is no shortage of extravagant beachfront villas in the Caribbean, but this one distinguishes itself by combining the best of neo-classical design with a touch of whimsy.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
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Cuarón clearly understood that the more extravagant choices can only function in the periphery of a sturdy emotional anchor, an actor with the gravitas to communicate the exasperation that Liborio feels in a reality that overwhelms him.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The first six years of the Black Crowes were insane to process.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
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An optimist and networker with Harpo Marx hair, he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2023 for helping invent the HTTPS encryption system and was among the first to take AI seriously, back when AI seemed even more insane.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Still, the global price of oil stood at about $100 a barrel, which marked a steep rise from pre-war levels.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Redifer said Workforce Solutions will keep focusing on populations facing the steepest barriers, including young people, individuals with disabilities, veterans and people balancing work and caregiving.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In recent months, Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and others have bought up lavish beachfront estates and new commercial office spaces in South Florida.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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Brazilian celebrities and politicians are known to frequent this exceptionally lavish event, with a black tie, long-dress dress code; tickets start from £600 and go into the thousands.—
Laura French,
TheWeek,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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