overmuch 1 of 3

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈməch How to pronounce overmuch (audio)
Definition of overmuchnext
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount I think you put overmuch care into your personal appearance—get over yourself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overmuch

2 of 3

adverb

as in overly
beyond a normal or acceptable limit you worry overmuch about what other people think

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overmuch

3 of 3

noun

ˈō-vər-ˌməch How to pronounce overmuch (audio)
as in excess
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed you must not expect an overmuch of gratitude from a very young child

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overmuch
Adjective
Paeans to matters of the flesh — birthmarks, necks, genitals, odors, butt hair, the asymmetry of noses — accumulate thrilling details without worrying overmuch about expedience. — Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026 That day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers not to fret overmuch—Trump’s goal was merely to buy, not to attack, the island. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026 The earlier graffiti hadn’t seemed to bother them overmuch, but this? — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Austin Wintory’s original score is effective, but takes care not to intrude overmuch on the conceit of in-ya-face realism. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Nov. 2021 Or any of the dozens of other education buzzwords that people embrace, often without overmuch attention to the fine print. — Frederick Hess, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2021 Meyer says consumers shouldn't worry overmuch about ham prices for the holidays. — Laura Reiley, chicagotribune.com, 26 Nov. 2019 Meyer says consumers shouldn’t worry overmuch about ham prices for the holidays. — Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2019
Adverb
But sometimes the people have exalted their dictators and have not cared overmuch about the rule of law. — Philip Zelikow, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overmuch
  1. excessive
  2. overly
  3. excess
  4. extreme
  5. too
  6. surplus
  7. steep
  8. excessively
Adjective
  • Tammy Abraham left soon after Tuchel arrived while most of the forwards — with the exceptions of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz — grew tired of the manager’s excessive candour.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • If the prospect of lines, crowds, and excessive noise is deterring you from a vacation this summer, then the area around Shippea Hill is the ultimate antidote.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of excessive
Adverb
  • Movie special effects studios are among the groups opposing the legislation over concerns that overly broad restrictions would impede their work.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
  • Layered Window Treatments Avoid overly layered drapes or shades that can give your room a busy look.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 18 July 2026
Definition of overly
Noun
  • Jordan Cvetanovski, chairman and chief investment officer at Pella Funds, said demand for AI infrastructure remains strong as companies race to build computing capacity, but signs of speculative excess are beginning to emerge.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • The rest of the trailer is filled with the kind of Eighties-style excess — with a gruesome tinge — that showcases what a good match Ellis and Murphy are for each other.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Definition of excess
Adjective
  • His talent was extreme, but his introverted personality seemed at times to inhibit him on the World Cup stage, where the burden of trying to deliver glory for his country — as Maradona did so memorably in 1986 — weighed so heavily on his shoulders.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • No one knows all the factors behind the population’s recent boom, although researchers point to recent extreme weather events and climate change, perhaps compounded with a rise in shipping traffic over recent decades.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of extreme
Adverb
  • Leather ballet flats dress things up without getting too formal.
    — India Roby, Glamour, 16 July 2026
  • Except that the parents themselves are fighting for control too, especially in those early years.
    — Parents, Parents, 16 July 2026
Definition of too
Noun
  • As Italy’s longest river, the Po delivers plenty of nutrients to the lagoons — both from natural sources and from human activities like farming — that provide a surplus of food for sea critters, including blue crabs.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Lamont’s chief fiscal focus since 2020 has been on channeling $11 billion in surpluses — forced by aggressive savings rules — to whittle down a hefty pension debt created over seven decades prior to 2011.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
Definition of surplus
Adjective
  • It was named so because the hill’s steep elevation was too trying for adults, and the lore goes that children hiked up to help pick grapes.
    — Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
  • The climb became steeper as the summit loomed ahead, and the sun burned brighter.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Definition of steep
Adverb
  • Many people associate the disorder with being neat, organized or excessively clean.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
  • They are prohibited from unfairly distracting the taker by excessively delaying the penalty or touching the posts, crossbar or net.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of excessively

Browse Nearby Words

overmodest
overmuch
overnice
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overmuch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overmuch. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All