Meaning & use

overkill

noun·Everyday

Last updated

An excessive amount of something, beyond what is necessary or reasonable.

See it in a sentence

Bringing four suitcases for a weekend trip felt like overkill.

Hiring five consultants for such a small project seems like overkill.

A note on using this word

Almost always used informally to criticize something as more than needed, often with a hint of humor.

Words with a similar meaning

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