overzealous
adjective
over·zeal·ous
ˌō-vər-ˈze-ləs 
: too zealous : having or showing too much zeal : excessively eager, enthusiastic, or fervent
overzealous parents
overzealous workers
… another version of the overzealous monitoring that has produced kids who leave for college without ever having crossed the street by themselves.—
Peggy Orenstein
Peggy OrensteinThe village saw the orders as unwarranted interference from an overzealous state bureaucracy and promptly appealed.—Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown
Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown
overzealously
adverb
… has been frequently accused by its critics of acting recklessly, overzealously, and even, at times, illegally.
—Steve Lustgarden
Steve Lustgarden
overzealousness
noun
Jewell was annoyed that press descriptions of him always emphasized his "overzealousness"; he considers himself a man of details.
—Marie Brenner
Marie Brenner
Examples of overzealous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Texas might be expecting to make $100 million from 10 new suites inside Royal-Memorial Stadium next year, but an overzealous approach to this year’s floral financials might chew a chunk out of that windfall if Texas isn’t careful.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The guards weren’t there to stop an overzealous fan.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Of course, cowardice isn’t the only answer — some of those leaders believe strongly in the federal government’s discriminatory and overzealous enforcement practices that put students at risk and create a climate of fear and anxiety in their own universities.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Federal officials shouldn’t expect Orange County taxpayers to foot the bill for their overzealous pursuit of injustice.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overzealous
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David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The guards weren’t there to stop an overzealous fan.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Of course, cowardice isn’t the only answer — some of those leaders believe strongly in the federal government’s discriminatory and overzealous enforcement practices that put students at risk and create a climate of fear and anxiety in their own universities.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Federal officials shouldn’t expect Orange County taxpayers to foot the bill for their overzealous pursuit of injustice.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overzealous
Cite this Entry
“Overzealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overzealous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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