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
Socks should feel breathable — think cotton or wool — and not overly warm, says Green.
—
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Feb. 2026
These abstracts can be developed with journal editors to help authors avoid unnecessary jargon and be finalized after the peer review process to avoid having experts overly criticize the generalization of the work.
—Kirstin R.w. Matthews, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Resist the urge to react dramatically and listen without being overly defensive.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
While this recipe has more than five ingredients, its list is not overly complicated.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Feb. 2026
These abstracts can be developed with journal editors to help authors avoid unnecessary jargon and be finalized after the peer review process to avoid having experts overly criticize the generalization of the work.
—Kirstin R.w. Matthews, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
Resist the urge to react dramatically and listen without being overly defensive.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
While this recipe has more than five ingredients, its list is not overly complicated.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overly
Adverb
-
The total rate that the perihelion advanced by was 5600 arc-seconds per century, and that rate was a little bit too much for Newtonian gravity.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
-
China has economic leverage over Panama, too.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Others can be excessively quiet, sleepy, or clingy.—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In other words, the Canucks have been stuck in their defensive zone for excessively long stretches and have owned very little puck possession when Lekkerimäki is on the ice.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
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
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If Rozier is paying for Laster’s attorney, that could unduly affect his friend's own defense, prosecutors said.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
17 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Perhaps, on extremely long timescales, those heavier elements will sink to the center of the core, producing an inert center that slows the rate of fusion even further.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even in hockey – a sport that is extremely popular around the world – there are terms used by commentators or pundits that you might not be accustomed to hearing if not a regular to the sport.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overly. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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