overuse

American  

[oh-ver-yooz, oh-ver-yoos] / ˌoʊ vərˈyuz, ˈoʊ vərˈyus /

verb (used with object)

overused, overusing

1. to use too much or too often.

   to overuse an expression.

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noun

1. excessive use.

   to strain one's voice through overuse.

Etymology

Origin of overuse

First recorded in 1670–80; over- + use

Example Sentences

Pessimists have overused the image of Wile E. Coyote running off a cliff and not falling until after doing a double-take.

From The Wall Street Journal

Vulgar language can be effective in a sharp response, but it dulls with overuse.

From The Wall Street Journal

Water was scarce; wetlands and lakes turned into swamps through soil erosion and overuse.

From The Wall Street Journal

I skim one article, feeling sick to my stomach as I read the words “overuse injury” and “could lead to a stress fracture” and “weeks or months to resolve.”

From Literature

My own favorite LLM word is liminal, which ChatGPT, when pressed, claims the “culture” started overusing first.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• exaggerate
• overestimate
• overplay
• overrate
• overreach
• overstate
• overvalue