overprescribe
verb
over·pre·scribe
ˌō-vər-pri-ˈskrīb
overprescribed; overprescribing
: to prescribe (a medication, diagnostic test, etc.) in excess or more often than necessary
The family of a man who fatally overdosed is suing his doctors claiming they overprescribed addictive pain medication.—WPXI.com (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
… tried … to warn the world against overprescribing antibiotics to a point that they would be useless.—Network Ten (Australia)
Critics say Xanax is overprescribed and widely abused.—Jane Velez-Mitchell
… the compelling and continuing issues of quality control and overprescribing in medical imaging …—David J. Brenner and Hedvig Hricak
Why do doctors overprescribe? Is it about covering their backsides in this litigious society?—Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker
Cite this Entry
“Overprescribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overprescribe. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.
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