as in popularized
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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Recent Examples of overused
The word timeless can sometimes be overused in fashion, but this is that word in action.
—
Libby Page, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
For those with sensitive skin — or if overused — AHAs can compromise the skin barrier, causing redness and irritation.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Reddit users, bloggers and researchers have compiled a list of words and phrases most overused by ChatGPT.
—Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes, 12 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
While an important tool in the toolbox, stop, question and frisk clearly had been overused, and abused.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Free is overused in some ads and promotions — and sometimes consumer watchdogs warn some ads can be deceptive.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
For example, one engineering company used AI agents to analyze workload distribution and identify areas where resources were being overused.
—Alex Circei, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
That might not be a good thing The pouches, which have become a convenient option for busy parents, can have several consequences for children if overused, doctors and other experts warn.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Libby Page, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
For those with sensitive skin — or if overused — AHAs can compromise the skin barrier, causing redness and irritation.
—Victoria Jowett, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Reddit users, bloggers and researchers have compiled a list of words and phrases most overused by ChatGPT.
—Kathryn Lancioni, Forbes, 12 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
While an important tool in the toolbox, stop, question and frisk clearly had been overused, and abused.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
Free is overused in some ads and promotions — and sometimes consumer watchdogs warn some ads can be deceptive.
—Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
For example, one engineering company used AI agents to analyze workload distribution and identify areas where resources were being overused.
—Alex Circei, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
That might not be a good thing The pouches, which have become a convenient option for busy parents, can have several consequences for children if overused, doctors and other experts warn.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overused
Verb
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He was hurt, he was exhausted and knew very well the odds of his Pittsburgh Penguins qualifying for the postseason were minimal at best.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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Fourteen years of war have left the country desolate, and its people exhausted; millions have been displaced or were forced to become refugees.—
Raghed Waked & Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The artist who would eventually become the voice of a generation was then a 19-year-old college dropout bored with the Midwest and intrigued by the folk music coming out of Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.—
Grant Wong,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Dec. 2024
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Doing the same things every day and not getting bored with doing the same things every day.—
Rick Stroud,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Overused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overused. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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