overpolice
verb (used with object)
to police excessively, as by maintaining a large police presence or by responding aggressively to minor offenses.
overpolicing
-
a word derived from
overpolice.
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.
She said the incident highlights what’s wrong with the system: overpolicing and overcharging for an outdated service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
We showed the note to Habib Kadiri, director of StopWatch, a campaign group which focuses on police stop and search and the "overpolicing of marginalised communities".
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2023
Already, the members have identified categories of harm — governmental property seizure; devaluation of Black-owned businesses; housing discrimination and homelessness; mass incarceration and overpolicing; and health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2023
Jason Picanzo, who led the local precinct’s community engagement team from its start in 2018 to the beginning of 2021, acknowledges the toll of years of overpolicing.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 7, 2021
Even these readers acknowledge the risks of overpolicing artists if the practice were to be taken to the extreme.
From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2017
