overzealous

adjective

over·​zeal·​ous ˌō-vər-ˈze-ləs 

: too zealous : having or showing too much zeal : excessively eager, enthusiastic, or fervent

overzealous parents

overzealous workers

… another version of the overzealous monitoring that has produced kids who leave for college without ever having crossed the street by themselves.

—Peggy Orenstein

The village saw the orders as unwarranted interference from an overzealous state bureaucracy and promptly appealed.

—Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown

overzealously adverb

… has been frequently accused by its critics of acting recklessly, overzealously, and even, at times, illegally.

—Steve Lustgarden

overzealousness noun

Jewell was annoyed that press descriptions of him always emphasized his "overzealousness"; he considers himself a man of details.

—Marie Brenner

Examples of overzealous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While overzealous forecasting tells part of the digital health story this year, there were some notable stumbles at particular companies. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024

Cameron Hudson, a senior associate in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argues the Biden administration took an overzealous approach toward Africa, resulting in broken promises. —Joanne Haner, The Hill, 22 Dec. 2024

Some Santas have dealt with overzealous Mrs. Clauses eager to outshine the main attraction. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024

While performing at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on Friday (Dec. 13), the 22-year-old pop star was struck by what appeared to be a necklace thrown by an overzealous fan. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above