overreliance

noun

over·​re·​li·​ance ˌō-vər-ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s How to pronounce overreliance (audio)
: the act or state of relying on something or someone too much : excessive reliance
One of my top priorities next year is to have an energy policy that begins to address all facets of our overreliance on fossil fuels.Barack Obama
I shy away from prescribing sleeping pills … to avoid overreliance on them.Andrew Weil

Examples of overreliance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the past, ranching in the West has caught flak for its heavy footprint on the environment and overreliance on government subsidies. Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026 Research shows that artificial intelligence tools can support learning, but also has raised concerns, including students’ overreliance, cheating, and the potential degradation of critical thinking and engagement. Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026 Of course, overreliance on EWA can upset your finances — just as any financial service product. Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 Instead, our species’ overreliance on the programs had generated an upper ruling class of technocrats that soon presided over all aspects of society. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overreliance

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overreliance was in 1833

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Cite this Entry

“Overreliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overreliance. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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