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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 overuse
Just like credit scores today, which are, at best, meaningful heuristics but are grossly overused, the technology sometimes became a substitute for common sense.
—
Brian Hamilton, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
John Fisher/Getty Images Miller has predicted that Misiorowski will serve as the Brewers closer in the postseason, citing Milwaukee's concern for overusing him in the rotation.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
That’s important, since many people make the mistake—both in the gym and daily life—of shrugging their shoulders up to their ears, which overuses the upper traps and elevates the scapula.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Brian Hamilton, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
John Fisher/Getty Images Miller has predicted that Misiorowski will serve as the Brewers closer in the postseason, citing Milwaukee's concern for overusing him in the rotation.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
That’s important, since many people make the mistake—both in the gym and daily life—of shrugging their shoulders up to their ears, which overuses the upper traps and elevates the scapula.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overuse
Verb
-
That absence increases the risk of caricature and stereotyping in AI image outputs of the Black community.—
Donnetta Monk,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Mormons have also sometimes been falsely stereotyped as being polygamists because some of their early founders and members were, but the group banned polygamy in 1890.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the end, the Guardians’ leverage arms were overexposed, and their bats ran out of magic.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Without shelter or sufficient support, this group is consistently overexposed to summer temperatures.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Omaha Productions of course, is the production company founded by Peyton Manning, which helped popularize the alternative broadcast format with the Monday Night Football Manningcast on ESPN.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
-
William Howard Taft was the first president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game in 1910 and, as legend had it, helped popularize the seventh-inning stretch.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions.—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
28 Oct. 2019
-
Ever since his rise to power, Trump has served as a vulgarizing agent.—
Leon Neyfakh,
Slate Magazine,
2 June 2017
Verb
-
Instead of gradually boiling into insanity, the film hits fever pitch hallucinations right away and quickly exhausts itself attempting to keep pace.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Vacherot won the next two points, exhausting Djokovic in a rally to get to 40-Ad.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To substitute sour cream for buttermilk, simply thin the sour cream to a thick but pourable consistency using milk or water (don't overdo it).—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
-
After Mauricio missed all of 2024 and had a slow return-to-play schedule this year, there is a balance between getting enough action versus overdoing it.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The massive tunnel system took more than a decade to dig and prepare, during which time Citizens did more than bore out deep rock tunnels.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
-
In the rear-view mirror, her mother’s dark eyes were boring into hers.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overuse. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share