These directions are overly complex.
She's overly sensitive to criticism.
They didn't seem overly concerned about the problem.
Recent Examples on the WebThe earthy matcha is complemented so nicely by the sweet cold foam — but still, the drink isn’t overly sugary.—Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 That latter tech, however, sounds a little overly cautious at the moment.—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024 This is a possibility because lawmakers and Newsom passed the 2023-2024 budget using financial projections that turned out to be overly optimistic.—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Critics have argued that tracking those emissions would be overly expensive and difficult for companies.—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 But the district was careful to build reserves, rely on state grants when possible and not overly invest in ongoing staff salaries.—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Helpful and friendly without being overly solicitous, folks who work at The Harper are genuine and kind.—Kim Westerman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But the Honda falls short in the seat comfort department, with stiff front buckets with overly firm cushions.—Alex Nishimoto, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 But overall, their dance routines aren’t overly high-concept or exhaustingly athletic.—Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of overly was
before the 12th century
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