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
Annabelle has been in so many movies now, to the point of being overused (the real doll has even been suspected of paranormal activity recently).
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The redemption story is overused in sports, but Anisimova coming back from a double-bagel Wimbledon final defeat against Iga Świątek to beat the same player a couple of months later was extraordinary.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
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
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The redemption story is overused in sports, but Anisimova coming back from a double-bagel Wimbledon final defeat against Iga Świątek to beat the same player a couple of months later was extraordinary.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
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
Lighting is often overused at night.
—Harold Wallace, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overused
Verb
-
We are not overexposed in China.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
-
United’s decade-plus of footballing dysfunction owes a partial debt to hiring processes that can make sense in the moment, but leave head coaches overexposed.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Burnout shows up as feeling constantly exhausted, emotionally checked out from work, and struggling to get things done effectively.—
Aisha Ditta,
CNBC,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The doctor may be exhausted from lack of sleep, or distraught after having performed CPR on a baby for forty-five minutes.—
Rachel Pearson,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although dogs and cats are often stereotyped as natural enemies, animal behaviorists say that, with proper introductions and a calm environment, these species can form deep and lasting bonds.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, the profession has been stereotyped as a world of calculators and spreadsheets, quietly humming in the background of business.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The tunnel will be bored into rock 60 to 250 feet under the lakebed, using a tunnel boring machine that would progress 40 feet per day on average during construction.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Davis and his crew got bored and went to the liquor store.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overused. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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