as in too
beyond a normal or acceptable limit
there's no need to be overly careful about the rough draft, since we'll polish it afterwards
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overly
This, coupled with an increase in social media content overly focused on diets, exercise, and personal appearance, is likely why experts are seeing an increase in eating disorder cases and severity in all genders, particularly boys.
—
Liz Regalia, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Federal agents who were recruited using explicitly White nationalist imagery will not be overly concerned with privacy and due process protections.
—Phillip Atiba Solomon, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
This gives them a little extra time to shop for rates and lenders online without having to be overly concerned about a pending rate reduction.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Shifting deadlines or overly long debates can’t keep you down!
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Liz Regalia, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Federal agents who were recruited using explicitly White nationalist imagery will not be overly concerned with privacy and due process protections.
—Phillip Atiba Solomon, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
This gives them a little extra time to shop for rates and lenders online without having to be overly concerned about a pending rate reduction.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Shifting deadlines or overly long debates can’t keep you down!
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overly
Adverb
-
The Legislature and Newsom acted when the low reading skills of California’s kids, as determined by nationwide testing, became too obvious to ignore.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Marlana McElvaine’s family thinks so, too.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Olive oil shots can cause digestive discomfort and weight gain if consumed excessively.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The important thing is not to focus on them excessively.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights warned that the decree could unduly restrict freedom of expression and criminalize criticism of public officials.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
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This ability to chop and change without unduly weakening the team — Smith seamlessly replacing top scorer Kieffer Moore over Christmas as midfielder George Thomason deputed admirably at left wing-back — could become even more important if further progress is made in the Cup.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Today any surface that has a coating, any device that uses stacks of extremely thin films — television screens, cell phone screens and the microchips inside — can be traced back to Katharine, repeatedly dipping a metal plate in a trough of water.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
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Wlazlo is extremely driven and results-oriented, Tessaro said.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overly. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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