as in too
beyond a normal or acceptable limit
there's no need to be overly careful about the rough draft, since we'll polish it afterwards
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overly
Frequent meals may be a better fit for those who feel overly hungry between meals or tend to overeat later in the day.
—
Caitlin Beale, Health, 19 May 2026
These changes may seem overly ambitious or optimistic.
—Jesse L. Goodman, STAT, 18 May 2026
Instead of filling my suitcase with bulky sneakers, sky-high heels, and overly sporty athleisure, Sisto recommended chic staples like linen pants, comfortable sandals, breezy matching sets, and playful pops of color.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Many climbing plants can be overly aggressive or invasive.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Caitlin Beale, Health, 19 May 2026
These changes may seem overly ambitious or optimistic.
—Jesse L. Goodman, STAT, 18 May 2026
Instead of filling my suitcase with bulky sneakers, sky-high heels, and overly sporty athleisure, Sisto recommended chic staples like linen pants, comfortable sandals, breezy matching sets, and playful pops of color.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Many climbing plants can be overly aggressive or invasive.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overly
Adverb
-
Those who have ridden it before know Smugglers Run has always been responsive, perhaps too much so as inexperienced gamers could spend the entire attraction crashing the ship.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
-
Jamie Gittens, too, is a straightforward winger and has had a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, struggling for a place due to form and often fitness.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adverb
-
The moment one starts perceiving what Arnold and friends undergo as excessively dismal, a quick peak at the live-action cruelty in action around the globe tempers that notion.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Local districts should be helped, not punished excessively due to the struggles of one school.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
This kind of a prompt will generally get the AI to not unduly bring up the sleep or rest recommendations.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Typically, though, restrictions on pretrial publicity must be narrowly tailored and must not unduly interfere with the press’s ability to inform the public about the proceedings.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overly. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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