excessive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of excessive
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( see excess, -ive); replacing Middle English excessif, from Middle French
Explanation
Excessive means beyond what is typical or normal. When something is excessive, there's way too much. Excessive refers to something that is extra — usually in a negative way. A 90-second drum solo in a two-minute song is excessive. Getting down on your knees and kissing someone's feet to thank them for a favor is excessive, unless they gave you their firstborn. Often this means something that exceeds the bounds of good taste, or is extravagant and inappropriately expensive. You should dress up for dinner, but wearing a ball gown to a diner is excessive.
Vocabulary lists containing excessive
The Bill of Rights
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Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
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List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is no point at which the dragging of Schmitt for this performance would turn excessive.
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026
Supporters say the measure would prevent excessive spending on executive salaries, fundraisers and other administrative expenses at clinics serving the state’s most vulnerable residents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The researchers achieved this by carefully controlling the pH gradient so the chemical changes were large enough to reshape the cornea without causing excessive damage.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
After 18 months of interactions with European business leaders and participation in the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Blom concluded that excessive gloom was itself placing Europe’s economic future at risk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Burnham established defenses that by prevailing standards seemed elaborate, even excessive.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
