excessive

1 of 2

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

excessiveness

2 of 2

noun

ex·​ces·​sive·​ness
-sivnə̇s, 
-sēv- also -səv-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being excessive
the townspeople chafed under the excessiveness of the tax imposed on them

Synonyms of excessive

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for excessive

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

Adjective 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.
Adjective
As she was being evaluated, a doctor informed her she had been flagged for receiving excessive pain medication prescriptions. — Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 In recent studies by AccuWeather experts, excessive rainfall can contribute to insect and fungus damage in parts of Pennsylvania, which may lead to duller colors and earlier leaf drop. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Nsanzimana says excessive consumption of milk has become part of a variety of new health challenges that come with urban lifestyle changes. — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Conversely, excessive blocking or mistimed deflections fill Wolf’s posture gauge, leaving him vulnerable. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excessive

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for excessive

See All Rhymes for excessive

Browse Nearby Words

excess insurance
excessive
excessively
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Cite this Entry

“Excessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excessive. Accessed 31 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
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