over·uti·lize
ˌō-vər-ˈyü-tə-ˌlīz 
overutilized; overutilizing
: to utilize (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently
overutilizing medical services
overutilizes credit cards
overutilization
noun
plural overutilizations
The main reason for our rising health care costs had been overutilization …
—
Bryan Burklow
Bryan Burklow
over·uti·li·za·tion
¦ō-vər-ˌyü-tə-lə-¦zā-shən
-ˌlī-¦zā-
variants
also British overutilisation
: excessive utilization : overuse
… suggests that the best way to curb overutilization of health care may be to shift more of the financial burden to workers.—Janice Castro et al., Time, 1 Feb. 1988
Janice Castro et al., Time, 1 Feb. 1988
overutilize
transitive verb
also British overutilise
overutilized; overutilizing; overutilizes
According to another study … exercise is underutilized, while drugs, especially potentially addictive narcotic pain medications, are overutilized.
—Food & Fitness Advisor, July 2009
Food & Fitness Advisor, July 2009
Cite this Entry
“Overutilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overutilize. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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