overuse

[ verb oh-ver-yooz; noun oh-ver-yoos ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·used, o·ver·us·ing.

1. to use too much or too often:

   to overuse an expression.

noun

1. excessive use:

   to strain one's voice through overuse.

Word History and Origins

Origin of overuse¹

First recorded in 1670–80; over- + use

Example Sentences

For years, experts in the American West have predicted that, unless the steady overuse of water was brought under control, the Colorado River would no longer be able to support all of the 40 million people who depend on it.

From ProPublica

Heat can help, whether that pain comes from overuse or stems from a chronic condition.

From Popular-Science

The overuse of fertilizers depletes natural nutrients in soil and makes crops like corn dependent on synthetic fertilizers for high yields.

From Popular-Science

The way we attempt to measure sexual dysfunction is heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, says Fugh-Berman, who is an outspoken critic of pharmaceutical marketing practices and medication overuse.

From Popular-Science

This resource overuse, perhaps combined with drought and failing agriculture, may well have been the society’s undoing.

From Popular-Science

Obsessive exercising and inadequate nutrition can, over time, put people at high risk for overuse injuries like stress fractures.

From The Daily Beast

One important type of secondary headache is the medication overuse headache.

From The Daily Beast

I also refuse to dilute the power of the accusation through inaccurate overuse.

From The Daily Beast

After a writer overheard Wilson mocking girls who obnoxiously overuse the phrase “so cute,” Penny began saying it on the show.

From The Daily Beast

Overuse of the word "interesting" reflects the cynical tastes of an information-rich audience.

From The Daily Beast

This is a "novicy" kind of diction in which the would-be forcible writer defeats his object by the overuse of expletives.

From Project Gutenberg

A great cause of ill health is overuse of sugar in concentrated form, candy, etc., especially by the sedentary.

From Project Gutenberg

Find synonyms for words which you have a tendency to overuse.

From Project Gutenberg

To overuse the psionic powers of the human mind is as dangerous as overusing morphine or alcohol.

From Project Gutenberg

And, not content with this overuse of one particular type of judgment, our critics claim its monopoly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion