excessive

adjective

ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈse-siv How to pronounce excessive (audio)
Synonyms of excessive
: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal
excessively adverb
excessiveness noun

Synonyms of excessive

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excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of excessive in a Sentence

an excessive display of wealth High fever, nausea, and excessive sweating are some of the symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This can help address the root cause of behaviors such as spending excessive time in bed awake, maintaining irregular sleep schedules, and conditioned arousal such as worrying about sleep. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026 The Weather Prediction Center has placed South Florida under a level 1 out of 4 risk of excessive heavy rainfall because some storms may produce heavy downpours and lead to localized flooding in spots. — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 31 July 2026 These poems used images from ordinary life to warn against greed, religious hypocrisy and an excessive attachment to worldly possessions. — Peter Dziedzic, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 Its fiber content may be beneficial when consumed in moderate amounts, but excessive intake could cause gastrointestinal distress, especially in those with a history of digestion conditions. — Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for excessive

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excessive was in the 14th century

Rhymes for excessive

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Excessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excessive. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

excessive

adjective
ex·​ces·​sive ik-ˈses-iv How to pronounce excessive (audio)
: showing excess : too much
excessively adverb
excessiveness noun

Legal Definition

excessive

adjective
ex·​ces·​sive
: exceeding what is proper, necessary, or normal
specifically : being out of proportion to the offense
excessive bail

More from Merriam-Webster on excessive

Nglish: Translation of excessive for Spanish Speakers

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