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
Fans heading to the Texas Rangers home opener this Friday against the Cincinnati Reds will find a lineup of new, over-the-top ballpark foods at Globe Life Field, as the team looks to top its already outsized culinary reputation.
—
Trevor Sochocki, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The reality series on Fox, which sees celebrity contestants don over-the-top disguises and compete karaoke-style, crowned it's champion Wednesday, April 1.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That said, your contribution needn’t cost money or be complicated or over-the-top to be meaningful and appreciated.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The legendary actress starred as over-the-top actress and matriarch Moira Rose in hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek opposite Dan, who played her on-screen son (David Rose), Dan's father Eugene Levy, who played her husband, Johnny Rose, and Annie Murphy, who played her daughter (Alexis Rose).
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Trevor Sochocki, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The reality series on Fox, which sees celebrity contestants don over-the-top disguises and compete karaoke-style, crowned it's champion Wednesday, April 1.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
That said, your contribution needn’t cost money or be complicated or over-the-top to be meaningful and appreciated.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The legendary actress starred as over-the-top actress and matriarch Moira Rose in hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek opposite Dan, who played her on-screen son (David Rose), Dan's father Eugene Levy, who played her husband, Johnny Rose, and Annie Murphy, who played her daughter (Alexis Rose).
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for over-the-top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for over-the-top
Adjective
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The author emphasizes that the library book controversy—central to the group’s identity—was excessive and poorly conceived.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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Ed Masley Weather can make all the difference at an outdoor music festival, as anyone who’s shivered through a cold and rainy night to see their favorite band (or couldn’t take selfies because their smartphone powered down to save itself from the excessive heat) can tell you.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But that was extreme, that was a different level.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Say goodbye to back pain and sore muscles with the Chirp Wheel XR 3-Pack, your at-home toolkit for extreme relief.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Luvme designates this tier, which comprises the vast majority of the brand’s wig offerings on the site, as the quintessential selection for first-time wig buyers and value-savvy shoppers seeking exceptional quality, resilience, and an impeccable, manageable finish without the extravagant price tag.—
Noel Cymone Walker,
StyleCaster,
1 Apr. 2026
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Other highlights include a spa steeped in ancient Roman thermal rituals and an extravagant ballroom for events.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And leading the country is a megalomaniac — Anthony Starr’s always riveting Homelander — who might be going insane.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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By any normal corporate logic, this was an insane thing to promise.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Near a lookout offering sweeping views, Gerhardt Konig, 47 — upset about his wife's relationship with a coworker — tried to push her off the steep trail, bashed her head with a rock and attempted to stab her with a syringe, prosecutors said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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There is a steep drop-off from around the top 150; for players in that region, life on tour can be a matter of just breaking even.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The hotel takes up about half the building (the non-Whitehall-facing component comprises lavish private residences and restaurants).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Ahead, learn more about the royal family’s Easter traditions, from Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Maundy Money’ ritual to the annual church service and what’s on the menu for their lavish Easter lunch.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Over-the-top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/over-the-top. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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