as in prolonged
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Recent Examples of overlong
This solid, slightly-overlong watch is best at capturing how time and trauma turn daily life into valuable history.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The pacing is overlong, removing much of the tension and excitement that make thrillers so fascinating to watch.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025
For instance, while most of the movie is about the title character, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor played by Emma Mackey, there is an overlong subplot about Ella’s younger brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), that encapsulates the tonal dysfunction of the movie.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Musically, Swift’s pivot toward concision feels like a response to claims that her last album was repetitive and overlong.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Their new collaboration is more satisfying than that uneven and overlong puzzle box, not to mention more readily coherent as a narrative.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Yet the historical resonance falls flat amid the film’s overlong runtime, unlikable characters and shaky accents that most actors stumble in and out of.
—Itzel Luna, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
That's not inherently a bad choice, but in this instance the overarching story feels both overlong and underwhelming as tiny pieces of the narrative are introduced without being fully explained.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
And Dorian, despite the visual inventiveness on display, does go a bit overboard and overlong at times, particularly in a late, extended scene that makes use of pre-recorded outdoor footage that allows more than one Snook to race through a forest.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The pacing is overlong, removing much of the tension and excitement that make thrillers so fascinating to watch.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025
For instance, while most of the movie is about the title character, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor played by Emma Mackey, there is an overlong subplot about Ella’s younger brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), that encapsulates the tonal dysfunction of the movie.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Musically, Swift’s pivot toward concision feels like a response to claims that her last album was repetitive and overlong.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Their new collaboration is more satisfying than that uneven and overlong puzzle box, not to mention more readily coherent as a narrative.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Yet the historical resonance falls flat amid the film’s overlong runtime, unlikable characters and shaky accents that most actors stumble in and out of.
—Itzel Luna, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
That's not inherently a bad choice, but in this instance the overarching story feels both overlong and underwhelming as tiny pieces of the narrative are introduced without being fully explained.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
And Dorian, despite the visual inventiveness on display, does go a bit overboard and overlong at times, particularly in a late, extended scene that makes use of pre-recorded outdoor footage that allows more than one Snook to race through a forest.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlong
Adjective
-
The storm arrives as Northern California shifts out of a prolonged high-pressure pattern that brought dry, warmer weather and valley fog through much of January.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
As armed gangs now control up to 90% of metropolitan Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region -- areas that together represent roughly 60% of the electorate -- Washington has emphasized the need for stability and a swift path to elections rather than a prolonged transition.—
JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When the front door opens, they’re greeted by an androgynous person with longish hair, thick eyebrows and a deep voice.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Pontiac’s Firebird had a longish life in car years, with four generations spanning 1967 to 2002.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Nearly seven years later, Kofod's successors -- again under the leadership of Frederiksen -- have faced a more protracted and aggressive campaign from Washington.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.—
Galip Dalay,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The reward for winning is the right to unleash an interminable flood of trash talk; the price of losing is to absorb it.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Polly’s demands could be interminable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone that circles the Arctic and contains extremely cold air.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
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How must Yves Bissouma, who was left out of the squad for August’s UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout defeat to Paris-Saint Germain due to persistent lateness, feel watching his team-mate avoid facing the consequences?—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The laundry list of failures under Newsom’s watch is lengthy, especially those that are entirely within his control.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
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After remaining relatively quiet on Sunday, the Republican president in two lengthy social media posts said that Democrats had encouraged people to obstruct law enforcement operations.—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Boone area may be home to three different ski resorts—Appalachian Ski Mountain, Sugar Mountain Resort, and Beech Mountain Resort—but America’s Best Small Mountain Town also has endless appeal for travelers who’d rather not spend all day zooming down the mountain.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
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The accolades were endless for Miranda in 2025.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlong. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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