overdependence

Meaning

1. 1noununcountable

   A state of relying on a person, thing or source of income so heavily that it becomes unhealthy or risky.

   Grammar: Usually followed by on: overdependence on one customer.

   Patterns

   • overdependence on someone
   • overdependence on something

   The town's overdependence on a single factory left it badly exposed when the plant closed.

   Teachers worried about the students' overdependence on translation apps.

   Her overdependence on her older brother made it hard for her to make decisions alone.

Common combinations

overdependence on technology

Overdependence on technology can leave a team helpless during a power cut.

reduce overdependence

The government plans to reduce overdependence on imported fuel.

growing overdependence

Doctors noted a growing overdependence on painkillers among patients.

economic overdependence

Economic overdependence on tourism hurt the island after the storm.

avoid overdependence

A good coach helps players avoid overdependence on one star.

Synonyms and how they differ

overreliance

Overreliance is almost identical but is more often used for trusting tools, methods or sources, while overdependence also fits emotional and economic needs.

dependency

Dependency is neutral or even clinical and does not on its own say the level is too high.

addiction

Addiction is much stronger and implies a compulsion, whereas overdependence can be a simple bad habit or structural weakness.

Opposites

Word family

dependence noun

the state of needing something or someone

dependent adjective

relying on something else

overdependent adjective

relying on something too much

depend verb

to rely on or be determined by something

Commonly confused: overdependence or dependents?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “overdependence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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