as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
the song already borders on the maudlin—the addition of a syrupy string accompaniment would just be overkill
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 overkill
If a 17-game schedule is too much from a player safety standpoint, 18 is flat out overkill.
—
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The defense has argued that police waited too long to read Mangione his Miranda rights and that the police actions amounted to overkill.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Proving that there’s nothing MAGA love like overkill, there’s also whole lot of George Washington (including a historically daft 2010 Dodge Challenger ad) in the almost hangover inducing 40-second spot.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Giving a sniper rifle explosive rounds that also cause electrical shocks seems like overkill, but shooting that gun never gets old.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The defense has argued that police waited too long to read Mangione his Miranda rights and that the police actions amounted to overkill.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Proving that there’s nothing MAGA love like overkill, there’s also whole lot of George Washington (including a historically daft 2010 Dodge Challenger ad) in the almost hangover inducing 40-second spot.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Giving a sniper rifle explosive rounds that also cause electrical shocks seems like overkill, but shooting that gun never gets old.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overkill
Noun
-
Will the Rockies, who have a surplus of young outfielders, make a spring training trade?—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The law aims to dramatically reduce landfill waste — especially organic waste — and requires many businesses to donate edible surplus food to organizations like Feeding San Diego.—
Patty Oconnor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ellison acquired Weiss’s the Free Press, a centrist digital news site that often targets excesses of the political left and is staunchly pro-Israel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Stomach-turning excesses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have turned many Americans’ abstract political preference into something uncomfortably concrete.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The airport also has an economy lot west of Terminal B with 3,300 parking spaces, which is used as an overflow lot when the main parking lots are full.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
High tide flooding, the overflow or excess accumulation of water that covers typically dry coastal land during times of high tide, is happening more often in many coastal communities, even on generally quiet weather days, according to NOAA.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overkill. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
