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
Reddit Reacts Many Reddit users were baffled by the cousin's over-the-top reaction.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Consider wearing an oversized, over-the-top brooch—like Phoebe Philo’s giant organza pom-pom—and pin it on the shoulder of your favorite Hanes tank top or band T-shirt.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 1 May 2025
Harbor's enjoyably over-the-top Red Guardian continues to be a paunchy steal-stealer, Pullman scores a nice MCU debut as a complex mystery man, and Louis-Dreyfus reigns as a deliciously snarky antagonist.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
History of Perms 1930s The first perm machine was invented in the early 1900s, and the perm machine in the 1930s mirrored something of an over-the-top medieval device.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Consider wearing an oversized, over-the-top brooch—like Phoebe Philo’s giant organza pom-pom—and pin it on the shoulder of your favorite Hanes tank top or band T-shirt.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 1 May 2025
Harbor's enjoyably over-the-top Red Guardian continues to be a paunchy steal-stealer, Pullman scores a nice MCU debut as a complex mystery man, and Louis-Dreyfus reigns as a deliciously snarky antagonist.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
History of Perms 1930s The first perm machine was invented in the early 1900s, and the perm machine in the 1930s mirrored something of an over-the-top medieval device.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
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May Trigger Digestive Issues Though olive oil may have benefits for some symptoms of digestive disorders such as inflammatory disease, consuming excessive amounts of olive oil can cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea.14 3.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2025
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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
Adjective
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Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
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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
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To live in one of the storybook homes that populates New Orleans’s Garden District—with their extravagant ironwork and gingerbread detailing—is, in many ways, to reside within a piece of history.—
Laura May Todd,
Architectural Digest,
2 May 2025
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The extravagant, impulsive act of giving that wraps up the night can stand as a metaphor for poetry itself.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The incident seemed to be an example of hazing or, if not, some sort of extreme prank, Fitzpatrick said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
1 May 2025
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The lawsuits seek money to help communities cope with the risks and damages from global warming, including more extreme storms, floods and heat waves.—
Michael Copley
,
Russell Newlove,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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