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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overkill
In an age when blockbuster overkill is supposed to be saving movies, the film reminds you that the real salvation of cinema will always come from those who understand that making a movie should be a magic trick good enough to fool the magician himself into believing it.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2025
This might sound like overkill, but as the car heats up and snow starts to slide, roof snow can fall onto windshields and obscure vision at intersections or when pressing on the brakes.
—Kade Krichko, Outside Online, 6 Mar. 2025
Since the 2015 Progeny box already gave us seven full concerts from the same tour, an additional show is welcome, but a bit of an overkill.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
That big ol’ stockpot may suddenly seem like total overkill.
—Jessica Saari Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2025
This might sound like overkill, but as the car heats up and snow starts to slide, roof snow can fall onto windshields and obscure vision at intersections or when pressing on the brakes.
—Kade Krichko, Outside Online, 6 Mar. 2025
Since the 2015 Progeny box already gave us seven full concerts from the same tour, an additional show is welcome, but a bit of an overkill.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
That big ol’ stockpot may suddenly seem like total overkill.
—Jessica Saari Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overkill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overkill
Noun
-
An earlier regulation that introduced import quotas faced criticism and revisions for blurring the line between essential supply chain items and surplus imports.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
14 July 2025
-
Non-distillers like KBD and Preservation followed suit, bottling well-aged surplus stocks for markets that wanted old American whiskey.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Her book, like her performances, lives in the productive tension between discipline and excess.—
Matthew Clark Davison,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
Once considered a watchdog for the excesses of union leadership, the Teamsters for a Democratic Union mostly now follows O’Brien.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Away from the icy protocol of the main courtroom, the overflow room was unruly.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
9 July 2025
-
The Lockhart Park project has stalled partly because Inter Miami has been using the 20-acre parcel for overflow parking on game days.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overkill. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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