overtax

[oh-ver-taks]

verb (used with object)

1. to tax too heavily.

2. to make too great demands on.

overtax

/ ˌəʊvəˈtæks /

verb

1. to tax too heavily

2. to impose too great a strain on

Other Word Forms

• overtaxation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overtax¹

First recorded in 1640–50; over- + tax

Example Sentences

But on a few days each year—particularly during heat waves, when people are using air conditioners—the grid gets overtaxed.

Read more on Barron's

Venable distills his situation into a scene, which he then overtaxes into a full-scale play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Supporters of reducing reliance on imported sources say pumping less water would bring environmental benefits for overtaxed ecosystems.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We make the assumption that L.A. is so special, that everybody wants to be here, so we can overtax and over-regulate them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Finally, the resistance is not being waged only by the small, under-resourced, and overtaxed yet committed group of activists who have been sounding the alarm and fighting the fight in lonely trenches for years.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• annoy 
• bore 
• depress 
• disgust 
• dishearten 
• dispirit 
• displease 
• drain 
• exasperate 
• fail 
• fatigue 
• irk 
• irritate 
• jade 
• overwork 
• wear 
• worry