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Synonyms

excessively

American  
[ik-ses-iv-lee] / ɪkˈsɛs ɪv li /

adverb

  1. in a way that goes beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree.

    Applying an excessively thick layer of mulch limits oxygen in the soil and can suffocate the plants.

Other Word Forms

  • nonexcessively adverb
  • quasi-excessively adverb
  • unexcessively adverb

Etymology

Origin of excessively

excessive ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Each target was legally viable, officials said, because it had a clear connection to Iran’s military and security forces and wouldn’t harm the civilian population excessively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

To describe the phenomenon, he used the slang word "glazing" -- to excessively praise something.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

When F. nucleatum was introduced directly into breast ducts, it caused metaplastic and hyperplastic lesions, noncancerous changes where cells either grow excessively or shift into a different type.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

But according to the Cour des Comptes, the new system relied excessively – and mistakenly – on good faith.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

He tips the driver excessively and steps out of the car.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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.