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Recent Examples of overlong
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
To make a heading cut, find an overlong main stem.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
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
To make a heading cut, find an overlong main stem.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlong
Adjective
-
Such tactics are not prohibited outright but are often discouraged, including by federal trainers, in part because using them for a prolonged time risks asphyxiation.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
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The chemicals are carcinogens and neurotoxins that can be hazardous to human health through prolonged and consistent physical contact — such as when land is regularly used for gardening or children play in it for years, experts said.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.—
Galip Dalay,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
-
South Africa — which is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the US over Pretoria’s Black empowerment laws, among other issues — went further, calling Washington’s move a violation of the UN Charter.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Polly’s demands could be interminable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The one important question that didn’t get asked on Monday — amid softballs to Schoen about Jaxson Dart’s promise and the GM’s interminable rebuild — was what specific roles senior personnel executive Chris Mara and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell are playing in this whole process.—
Pat Leonard,
Hartford Courant,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But the discharges also can overwhelm the delicate estuaries east and west of the state’s largest lake and, during the warm summer months, spread blooms of toxic algae, an issue that has become more persistent in recent years.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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In Bug, Carrie Coon's Agnes White — an Oklahoma waitress too exhausted to outrun her past — faces a more persistent threat.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bowen Byram made everything happen to set up Alex Tuch's goal, and Jason Zucker scored off his back on a power play in his second game back in the lineup following a lengthy absence.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Kinnear said the Checkers are still learning to deal with things such as lengthy road trips.—
Steve Lyttle,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Explore the cobblestone streets, duck into museums like the Maritime Museum of Crete, and shop for souvenirs in the endless boutiques.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
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In a hospital, endless systems are reliant on network connections, from electronic health records and radiology systems to scheduling systems for employees.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlong. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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