overly

adverb

over·​ly ˈō-vər-lē How to pronounce overly (audio)
Synonyms of overlynext
: to an excessive degree : too

Synonyms of overly

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Examples of overly in a Sentence

These directions are overly complex. She's overly sensitive to criticism. They didn't seem overly concerned about the problem.
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Additionally, the ruling provides clarity on the scope of the law, which opponents have criticized as overly vague. — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Noah Siviglia, an engineer coordinating the work, asked employees to help identify project costs and completion dates, noting that the information did not need to be overly precise because of the tight deadline. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The only casualty here is that overly firm ride, even in Comfort mode. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 Few would bother to think about the two-state solution, viewing the idea as a relic from the overly optimistic 1990s. — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overly

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

Rhymes for overly

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Browse Nearby Words

overlusty
overly
overman
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Cite this Entry

“Overly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

overly

adverb
over·​ly ˈō-vər-lē How to pronounce overly (audio)
: to an excessive degree : too
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