as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
the song already borders on the maudlin—the addition of a syrupy string accompaniment would just be overkill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overkill
The rehearsed, synchronized closer was slight overkill, no?
—
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 19 July 2024
Nordlinger also notes an important instance of overkill.
—Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2012
Advertisement Exxon has more resources than just about anybody; ‘overkill’ doesn’t begin to describe the imbalance of power.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024
The new iPad Air will probably also get a new M2 processor, which makes sense and will be totally meaningless to most people since the M1 chip in the current iPad Air still feels like overkill.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overkill 
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 19 July 2024
Nordlinger also notes an important instance of overkill.
—Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2012
Advertisement Exxon has more resources than just about anybody; ‘overkill’ doesn’t begin to describe the imbalance of power.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024
The new iPad Air will probably also get a new M2 processor, which makes sense and will be totally meaningless to most people since the M1 chip in the current iPad Air still feels like overkill.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overkill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overkill
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
Noun
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The timing makes sense: After a holiday season filled with cocktail parties and not-so-healthy meals, the idea of cleansing the body of excess seems attractive.—
Vicky Vera,
Glamour,
24 Jan. 2025
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The Magnificent Seven companies reporting in the week ahead could unlock the next leg of the rally, as investors bet that earnings growth fueled by artificial intelligence could power a market some worry has gone to excess.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Should those sites fill up, overflow housing is available to single adults at the Robert C. Marshall Recreation Center at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave., and to families at the former Lois T. Murray Special Education School at 1600 E. Arlington Ave., Randolph said.—
Jonathan M. Pitts,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Jan. 2025
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Trump was giving a second set of inaugural remarks to an overflow crowd that hadn’t made it into the rotunda.—
Antonia Hitchens,
The New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near overkill
Cite this Entry
“Overkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overkill. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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