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.
The ranchers said the park service saddled them with excessive rules and regulations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Police have withdrawn cases against protestors in several cities after criticism over the excessive use of force.
From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026
A Los Angeles jury subsequently found that Meta and YouTube were liable in the case of a young woman who said excessive use of the products led to mental-health problems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Viewers were shocked by the price tag for a 5-year-old, accusing the post of promoting excessive consumerism.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
He was a reasonable man, and said his office was always open to us, but that excessive publicity would only worsen matters.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
