excessive

[ik-ses-iv]

adjective

1. going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree; characterized by excess.

   excessive charges; excessive criticism.

   Synonyms: unreasonable, exorbitant, inordinate, extravagant, immoderate
   Antonyms: reasonable

excessive

/ ɪkˈsɛsɪv /

adjective

1. exceeding the normal or permitted extents or limits; immoderate; inordinate

Other Word Forms

• excessively adverb
• excessiveness noun
• nonexcessive adjective
• nonexcessiveness noun
• quasi-excessive adjective
• unexcessive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excessive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( excess, -ive ); replacing Middle English excessif, from Middle French

Example Sentences

"These materials tend to be porous, which significantly reduces their strength, and the parts suffer from excessive shrinkage, which causes warping," he says.

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Masafumi Kouki told AFP he has worried for many months about the "negative effects of excessive smartphone use, especially the sharp decrease in direct human communication".

Read more on Barron's

Psychologists attribute the dazed look to excessive screen time stunting the development of social skills, which was exacerbated by the pandemic lockdowns.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Imagine approaching people, asking them a question, then watching them walk away—either leaving your query unanswered or taking excessive time to respond.

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“Applying terrorism charges even where you believe individuals have burned down buildings or committed robbery is excessive,” said Irungu Houghton, head of Amnesty International’s Kenya office.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disproportionate 
• enormous 
• exaggerated 
• exorbitant 
• extra 
• extravagant 
• extreme 
• inordinate 
• needless 
• redundant 
• steep 
• superfluous 
• unconscionable 
• undue 
• unreasonable