Synonyms

excessively

American

[ik-ses-iv-lee] / ɪkˈsɛs ɪv li /

adverb

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

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.

"Excessively optimistic growth expectations about AI could be revised in light of incoming data from early adopters and could trigger a market correction," the IMF said.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

He has hyperhidrosis, which I didn’t even know was a thing: Excessively sweaty palms.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Excessively low inflation and excessively high unemployment have prompted the Fed's very easy policies, including near-zero interest rates, now five years after the end of the Great Recession.

From Reuters • Jan. 14, 2014

Excessively slow play can create issues of fairness to the player returning the ball, particularly if the player serving it disrupts the rhythm of the match by saving the longest delays for critical points.

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2011

Excessively heavy seeding has been used increasingly to compensate for inadequate soil preparation.

From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Baluyut, Violeta D.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023