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

We can’t start to eliminate the deficit by raising the regressive payroll tax on the back of already overtaxed wage earners.

Read more on MarketWatch

She never looks less than perfectly photoshopped, but the production ultimately overtaxes her strengths.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That toll includes Muslims, Christians, soldiers, civilians and government officials, killed by terrorists, herdsmen, vigilantes, forest-dwelling kidnapping gangs, pirates off the coast, and Nigeria’s own overtaxed military.

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

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

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Related Words

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