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overexertion

American  
[oh-ver-ig-zur-shuhn] / ˌoʊ vər ɪgˈzɜr ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of working, exercising, or exerting oneself excessively.

    The Vermont Health Department is reminding people that overexertion when shoveling snow can lead to heart attacks.

  2. the act of using or exercising something excessively.

    People took to the streets to protest systemic racism and the overexertion of power by the police.


Etymology

Origin of overexertion

over- ( def. ) + exertion ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

It means she can faint or have seizures triggered by overexertion or anxiety.

From BBC Apr. 22, 2026

That can lead to rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle breakdown caused by overexertion that can result in kidney failure, said Francisco J. Amaro Gahete, a leading researcher focused on whole-body EMS.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 1, 2026

The coach said he has to kick Oronde Gadsden off the field after practices to keep the rookie tight end from overexertion.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 17, 2025

The birds suffered from capture myopathy, a symptom animals in captivity experience through overexertion that can lead to metabolic and muscle issues.

From Seattle Times Aug. 17, 2023

“Oh, Babygirl, I’m so glad you’re all right. When they called me to say that you were recovering from something called severe post-magic overexertion, I didn’t know what to think.”

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

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