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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overly
Choose Sophisticated, Muted Tones Jennifer Jones, Principal Designer of Niche Interiors, emphasizes the importance of selecting tones that feel layered and refined rather than overly bold.
—
Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 1 June 2026
Known for her light-handed, effortless approach, Rōszak avoids anything that feels overly styled, preferring instead to enhance hair’s natural texture and movement.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 June 2026
When an autonomous vehicle (AV) gets stuck or becomes overly cautious, remote operators often become the backstop.
—David Roberts, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Minor misunderstandings are also likely, particularly if someone feels unheard, dismissed or overly criticized.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 1 June 2026
Known for her light-handed, effortless approach, Rōszak avoids anything that feels overly styled, preferring instead to enhance hair’s natural texture and movement.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 June 2026
When an autonomous vehicle (AV) gets stuck or becomes overly cautious, remote operators often become the backstop.
—David Roberts, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Minor misunderstandings are also likely, particularly if someone feels unheard, dismissed or overly criticized.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overly
Adverb
-
Obviously, there's more to it than that, coaching and other factors need to be in place too, but does anyone believe Fernando Mendoza winds up in Bloomington if not for NIL?—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
-
There are some more interesting initiatives, too.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
The doctor intentionally left the remainder of the tumor as a precaution against possible brain damage due to excessively invasive surgery.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Again, this is very Yellowstone for Rip to have an excessively violent response to an irritating obstacle.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
The most important metric should assess student growth, over time and not rely unduly on individual test scores, which tend to reflect socioeconomic factors outside teachers’ control.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
The person might become unduly disturbed and fall for the assumption that the AI must be right.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Adverb
-
Canfield, as proven by her work in Stereophonic, is extremely able at playing a character with a pristine, almost porcelain surface and roiling depths.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
-
This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overly. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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