overuse

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

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈyuz; noun ˈoʊ vərˈyus /

to use too much or too often: to overuse an expression.

excessive use: to strain one's voice through overuse.

Nearby words

First recorded in 1670–80; over- + use

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Obsessive exercising and inadequate nutrition can, over time, put people at high risk for overuse injuries like stress fractures.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Overuse of the word "interesting" reflects the cynical tastes of an information-rich audience.
Zany, Cute, Interesting: What the Words We Use Say About Us|Benjamin Lytal|October 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Our Bodies, Ourselves remains theoretically feminist, of course—even if there is a conscious effort made not to overuse the word.
The Sex Book That Hit the Spot|Jessica Bennett|September 30, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Instead of creating safer births and healthier moms and babies, our overuse of technology has caused a host of problems.
Doctors Need Midwives: Ina May Gaskin on the U.S. Maternity-Care Crisis|Ina May Gaskin|May 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Your back is starting to ache, fingers locking up from overuse, and right now you truly appreciate the cheesesteak.
The Perfect Cheesesteak|Tom McAllister|May 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I lowed he was a bit out o temper with the knife; an it did look sort o foul sir, along o overuse an neglect.
Every Man for Himself|Norman Duncan
A great cause of ill health is overuse of sugar in concentrated form, candy, etc., especially by the sedentary.
How to Live|Irving Fisher and Eugene Fisk
Find synonyms for words which you have a tendency to overuse.
The Style Book of The Detroit News|The Detroit News
And, not content with this overuse of one particular type of judgment, our critics claim its monopoly.
Essays in Radical Empiricism|William James
This is a "novicy" kind of diction in which the would-be forcible writer defeats his object by the overuse of expletives.
The Verbalist|Thomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)

also over-use, 1862, from over- + use (n.).