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Showing results for overzealous. Search instead for overjealously.
Synonyms

overzealous

American  
[oh-ver-zel-uhs] / ˈoʊ vərˈzɛl əs /

adjective

  1. too zealous.

    overzealous for reform.
overzealous British  
/ ˌəʊvəˈzɛləs /

adjective

  1. excessively zealous

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • overzealously adverb
  • overzealousness noun

Etymology

Origin of overzealous

First recorded in 1625–35; over- + zealous

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.

They’re overzealous because the law is very clear that oversight of these markets is the exclusive province of the federal government.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

To a modern eye, this might seem overzealous.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

And we can thank the overzealous adoption of A.I. for that.

From Slate • Oct. 17, 2025

In the tribal world of K-Pop, such cases are surprisingly common, as overzealous fans attempt to trash their rivals.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

In only one thing was I thoughtless, or perhaps overzealous.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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.