over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 
overused; overusing
: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently
a word that has been greatly overused
At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüs
: too much use : excessive or too frequent use
the overuse of antibiotics
athletes suffering from overuse injuries
His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.—Frederick Kaufman
Frederick KaufmanExamples of overuse in a Sentence
Verb
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
Recent Examples on the Web
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, resharing others’ posts or overusing carousels significantly underperforms.
—Justin Nassiri, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Martin Agran, a University of Wyoming professor who focuses on special education, said the research shows that there’s an overuse of restraint and seclusion.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
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Verb
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
Meanwhile, resharing others’ posts or overusing carousels significantly underperforms.
—Justin Nassiri, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
The actor says much of his mental state at the time was a result of an overuse of testosterone cream.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
Martin Agran, a University of Wyoming professor who focuses on special education, said the research shows that there’s an overuse of restraint and seclusion.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overuse. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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