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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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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For example, one couple who would have faced a retirement funding shortfall when they had been affected by the WEP and GPO may now have a lifetime surplus of more than $300,000 once those offsets are eliminated, according to MassMutual's computer models.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2025
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Luckily, Lovehoney has made all the possibilities more reachable by discounting a surplus of devices ahead of February 14 by up to 70 percent off.—
Maya Gandara,
StyleCaster,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The experience of that disaster and others has led to per-event deductibles (or excess) rising from 100 million euros to 400 million euros today.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2025
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The same things happened during the early days of the Macri administration, where the excesses of the Kirchner era were quickly investigated, and several high profile officials including former vice president Amado Boudou and Julio De Vido, Public Works Secretary, were arrested in demeaning ways.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When the person who had signed up to speak on the proclamation was found to be absent, O’Hare asked County Administrator Chandler Merritt if there were more people in an overflow room.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Jan. 2025
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Castle, who arrived in June, has an overflow of potential.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near overkill
Cite this Entry
“Overkill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overkill. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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