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.
A moderate level of disorder might make a network more stable, while excessive variation could eventually push that same system in the opposite direction.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
"I'm not talking about anything excessive but just a 'thanks' makes you want to help next time."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Bouncing from objective to objective has involved excessive efforts to manage the real economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
“The risk comes from excessive intensity, not double cleansing itself,” said Kristyn Smith, an esthetician and founder of Practice in New York.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
With excessive care they continue today to note the difference between private and public life.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
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.
