as in to stereotype
to use so much as to make less appealing
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overuse
Prioritizing Style Over Substance Avoid prioritizing style over substance—like overusing industry jargon or relying too much on emojis.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Side effects can vary based on your overall condition and the specific vitamin or supplement overused.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
Desperate for youth and beauty, Elisabeth’s new younger self (who names herself Sue) quickly gets careless and starts overusing her time, which causes Elisabeth’s body to rot away.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This could be due to cold, dry weather, sweating, not drinking enough water, or overusing strong actives (like exfoliating acids and retinol, which can potentially weaken your barrier).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Side effects can vary based on your overall condition and the specific vitamin or supplement overused.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
Desperate for youth and beauty, Elisabeth’s new younger self (who names herself Sue) quickly gets careless and starts overusing her time, which causes Elisabeth’s body to rot away.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This could be due to cold, dry weather, sweating, not drinking enough water, or overusing strong actives (like exfoliating acids and retinol, which can potentially weaken your barrier).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overuse
Verb
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Of course, dark-skinned Black women are historically stereotyped as aggressive even though Doechii’s urgent asks are relatively inoffensive in the grand scheme of celebrity misbehavior.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
-
With as many as six generations participating in today’s workforce, employers need to avoid leaning too far into the preferences of one generation over another or stereotyping workers by age.—
Jim Pauley,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The couple’s recent red-carpet appearance with their kids at Pompeo’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony was a rare one, and I, for one, kind of love that their family life is the antithesis of overexposed.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
1 May 2025
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When a player like McKinstry begins receiving everyday at-bats, there is a risk of that player getting overexposed — too many miles on the Cadillac.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The agency did not answer written questions about the cuts, but in a statement referred to the slogan popularized by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the health secretary: Make America Healthy Again.—
Steven Lee Myers,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
It was created and popularized in Fayetteville, Tennessee.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
14 May 2025
Verb
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His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions.—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
28 Oct. 2019
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Ever since his rise to power, Trump has served as a vulgarizing agent.—
Leon Neyfakh,
Slate Magazine,
2 June 2017
Verb
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To the elderly and those already exhausted by their efforts to get this far, this simply became an insurmountable barrier.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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After exhausting the questions, Witt posed for a picture with the entire class.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Yet abroad, Germans are still caricatured as Nazis, and the remembrance culture plays a part by overdoing it.—
Mark Sappenfield,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 May 2025
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Reflect what the job is looking for, but don't overdo it—listing nine to 12 skills is sufficient. 3.—
Franklin Buchanan,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Best Early Way Day Decor Deals Small decor pieces can transform any room from boring to homey.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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With phones and the internet, teens never have to be bored again.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overuse. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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