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
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 overused
Dallas’ blue line has more depth in terms of numbers, but its top three producers have been overused.
—
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
So, if the idea of culture is overused, its importance tells the path to success — or failure.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Abbas notes that, like any exfoliant, citric acid can cause dryness, irritation, or sensitivity if overused or used in very high concentrations.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 14 Jan. 2026
Gregg agrees that gray has been overused as a whole.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Their answers, unsurprisingly, skew toward once-trending hues that now feel tired and overused.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
Leave overused, cool neutrals in 2025 and take advice from interior designer Marianne Jones and embrace warm, earthy, and saturated color palettes.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
More coaching, less managing Sporting analogies are often overused in business as the two worlds don’t perfectly align, yet the evolution of leadership in elite football offers useful lessons.
—Justin Hotard, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Kapur recalled how early digital workflows and early surround-sound mixes were initially overused before the industry learned restraint.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
So, if the idea of culture is overused, its importance tells the path to success — or failure.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Abbas notes that, like any exfoliant, citric acid can cause dryness, irritation, or sensitivity if overused or used in very high concentrations.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 14 Jan. 2026
Gregg agrees that gray has been overused as a whole.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Their answers, unsurprisingly, skew toward once-trending hues that now feel tired and overused.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
Leave overused, cool neutrals in 2025 and take advice from interior designer Marianne Jones and embrace warm, earthy, and saturated color palettes.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
More coaching, less managing Sporting analogies are often overused in business as the two worlds don’t perfectly align, yet the evolution of leadership in elite football offers useful lessons.
—Justin Hotard, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Kapur recalled how early digital workflows and early surround-sound mixes were initially overused before the industry learned restraint.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overused
Verb
-
Journalists related stories to Brown of the future princess giving them the slip, joking with them, managing her media relations so she wouldn’t be overexposed or maligned.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Most retirees are overexposed to housing.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If you’re exhausted by life, you’re allowed to cancel plans — even fun ones — to restore your energy.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Eligibility requirements The city began accepting applications this week and will continue through June 30 this year, or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Embroidery and quilting hobbies once stereotyped as old-fashioned are booming, especially among younger generations.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Crime-scene investigators bored holes and pulled out a succession of neat plastic packages containing razors, saw blades, handcuff keys, and security bits.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Sanders, apparently bored by the standard vernacular of police work and not enamored with the work of American journalist and short-story author Damon Runyon, developed his own lingo for his reports.—
Kevin Foster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overused. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
