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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 over-the-top
At Versace, Dario Vitale wowed attendees with a collection that was just as sexy and sizzling as any other Versace collection—not with over-the-top glamour, but with an over-the-top sense of cool.
—
Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
TikTok users were quick to share their love for Burrow’s over-the-top emotions.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Hedda is nothing if not a showcase for both the star and her director Nia DaCosta, with the latter setting the drama in 1950s English high society and giving everything a garish, gloriously over-the-top aesthetic that suggests Downton Abbey via Baz Luhrmann.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Of course, Heidi Klum and her husband Tom Kaulitz have made Halloween unforgettable with their over-the-top duo costumes.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
TikTok users were quick to share their love for Burrow’s over-the-top emotions.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Hedda is nothing if not a showcase for both the star and her director Nia DaCosta, with the latter setting the drama in 1950s English high society and giving everything a garish, gloriously over-the-top aesthetic that suggests Downton Abbey via Baz Luhrmann.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Of course, Heidi Klum and her husband Tom Kaulitz have made Halloween unforgettable with their over-the-top duo costumes.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
-
There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The research team claims that their strategy offers a novel approach to developing high-performance cathodes capable of operating under extreme temperatures.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The scale runs from G1, minor, to G5, extreme.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The boom in production costs has been blamed on high talent prices, stemming from extravagant spending by big streamers in recent years.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Not every Tesla investor was on board with the extravagant deal.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.—
Kristin Robinson,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Best Early Black Friday Target Kitchen Deals The sale brings steep discounts to top kitchen brands like Ninja, Keurig, and KitchenAid.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
His mental health went into a steep decline.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The trio were indicted in May and accused of falsifying loan applications to get federal pandemic relief funds and money meant for Brown’s nonprofit that was spent on a lavish birthday party and Louis Vuitton items.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Other content in her round-up included a video of a lavish fireworks display, Alba lounging on the beach in a leopard print bikini and a fruit display with a custom coconut at One&Only Palmilla Los Cabos resort in Mexico.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share