as in popularized
to use so much as to make less appealing
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
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Recent Examples of overused
So, if the idea of culture is overused, its importance tells the path to success — or failure.
—
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Abbas notes that, like any exfoliant, citric acid can cause dryness, irritation, or sensitivity if overused or used in very high concentrations.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 14 Jan. 2026
Gregg agrees that gray has been overused as a whole.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Their answers, unsurprisingly, skew toward once-trending hues that now feel tired and overused.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
Leave overused, cool neutrals in 2025 and take advice from interior designer Marianne Jones and embrace warm, earthy, and saturated color palettes.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
More coaching, less managing Sporting analogies are often overused in business as the two worlds don’t perfectly align, yet the evolution of leadership in elite football offers useful lessons.
—Justin Hotard, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Kapur recalled how early digital workflows and early surround-sound mixes were initially overused before the industry learned restraint.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
The funds allow staff to investigate neglect and abuse taking place in institutional settings, whether restraints and seclusion are being overused, and whether deaths within these facilities are the result of medical neglect.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Abbas notes that, like any exfoliant, citric acid can cause dryness, irritation, or sensitivity if overused or used in very high concentrations.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 14 Jan. 2026
Gregg agrees that gray has been overused as a whole.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Their answers, unsurprisingly, skew toward once-trending hues that now feel tired and overused.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 5 Jan. 2026
Leave overused, cool neutrals in 2025 and take advice from interior designer Marianne Jones and embrace warm, earthy, and saturated color palettes.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
More coaching, less managing Sporting analogies are often overused in business as the two worlds don’t perfectly align, yet the evolution of leadership in elite football offers useful lessons.
—Justin Hotard, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025
Kapur recalled how early digital workflows and early surround-sound mixes were initially overused before the industry learned restraint.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
The funds allow staff to investigate neglect and abuse taking place in institutional settings, whether restraints and seclusion are being overused, and whether deaths within these facilities are the result of medical neglect.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overused
Verb
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Most retirees are overexposed to housing.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Only a few years after her 21st birthday extravaganza, Paris Hilton had been overexposed.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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They're exhausted by the constant airing of grievances having little to do with what's actually going on in the country, and by the broad generalizations about, well, everything, that ignore context, nuance and facts to promote a political viewpoint.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But critically, there's a gaping hole in the offensive line following the departure of left tackle Dorion Strawn, who exhausted his eligibility.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many of the musicians and audience members belonged to a generation that’s often stereotyped as languishing in apathy and isolation—but whose indignation about the suffering in Gaza has far outpaced that of other generations.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Symptoms such as hot flashes and mood changes are well known, and often stereotyped, but experts worldwide want to highlight that women face a huge range of changes to their bodies during the menopause – and lack of awareness means many will start experiencing symptoms without knowing why.—
Sashikala VP,
CNN Money,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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You won’t be bored here, thanks to multiple natural hot springs, waterfalls, and the resort's adventure center.—
Lauren P. Reyes,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The rousing trailer finds Prince Adam bored to death hiding out at a generic corporate desk job on Earth when his precious sword is discovered, which sends him on a wild odyssey back to the land of Eternia and its talking tigers, spaceships, gothic castles, and magic swords.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overused. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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