Meaning & use

over-the-top

adjective·Everyday

Excessive or exaggerated far beyond what is reasonable, tasteful, or necessary.

See it in a sentence

The wedding decorations were so over-the-top that guests could barely move around the tables.

His apology felt over-the-top, complete with flowers, a song, and a public speech.

A note on using this word

Often written without hyphens when used after a verb ("it was over the top") and informally to criticize something as too much.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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