as in extra
being over what is needed
any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lay off
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excess
Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Jan. 2025
Body fat also plays a role, with the researchers noting that a woman with a waist measurement of more than 34.6 inches likely has excess body fat, while men with a waist circumference of at least 40 inches also likely have too much body fat.4
What Happens Now?
—Korin Miller, Health, 22 Jan. 2025
Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
How Donald Trump’s second inauguration outdid the cruelty and excesses of his first, writes columnist Robin Abcarian.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See all Example Sentences for excess 
Adjective
Weight comes up early and often on the subject of cancer risk reduction because there’s a good deal of observational evidence linking excess body weight with various types of cancer, like stomach, pancreas, ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Jan. 2025
Body fat also plays a role, with the researchers noting that a woman with a waist measurement of more than 34.6 inches likely has excess body fat, while men with a waist circumference of at least 40 inches also likely have too much body fat.4
What Happens Now?
—Korin Miller, Health, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
Xi’s attempts to reduce economic inequality and curb the excesses of China’s booming private sector have followed a similarly opaque and erratic course.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
How Donald Trump’s second inauguration outdid the cruelty and excesses of his first, writes columnist Robin Abcarian.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
That suggests existing protections won’t have much force until the state extends its new worker-misclassification law (which cracks down on employers who rely to excess on gig workers) to temporary employees.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2021
See all Example Sentences for excess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excess
Adjective
-
If so desired, extra time can be spent on the Lions’ 52-point explosion in a Week 8 victory over the Tennessee Titans.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Gently squeeze the pillow to remove extra water and let sit flat on a drying rack to dry.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Here is the reality of the Hogan surplus and the handoff to the Moore administration: Hogan left Moore $2.5 billion in the rainy day fund.—
Kevin Igoe,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Jan. 2025
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Los Angeles would have to clear a 40-man spot for Yates, which means the Dodgers could look to move from that relief surplus.—
Fabian Ardaya,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Like many wildland firefighters, Leo was a seasonal employee, so he was laid off at the end of the 2024 fire season.—
M. R. O’Connor,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The second month rolled around, and my roommate didn’t have her share of the rent and claimed to have been laid off.—
Harriette Cole,
The Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The bereaved participants, led by Charlotte (a scene stealing Tasha Smith), gather in a spare multimedia room to process their loss.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Got a spare £560 for a decent view of Inter Miami vs Al Ahly?—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Jalen Hurts has been sacked on 18 percent of pass plays.—
Michael Salfino,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
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He was not sacked in the game, and Washington was 3-for-4 on fourth-down conversion attempts.—
Ryan Gaydos,
Fox News,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Razorbacks trimmed the MU lead to 12 on the back of a 6-0 run in the early minutes of the second half.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
19 Jan. 2025
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The walls are trimmed in cinderblock to protect from flaming debris blowing up against the seam where wall meets ground.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The move is an apparent effort to repeal President Biden’s executive order to remove potential workforce barriers for the outlined demographic in 2021.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2025
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The site, however, was removed during Trump's first term which started in 2017.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On the other hand, some smaller chains and specialty retailers have struggled to keep doors open or been forced to downsize.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2025
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The deal serves as a reminder that more tech companies appear to be scouting for ways to expand their footprints in Silicon Valley, a counterpoint to the industry’s layoffs, office space cutbacks and push to downsize in recent years.—
George Avalos,
The Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excess. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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