Overly: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when someone is doing something more than what is considered normal or reasonable, often with a slightly negative implication.

• He was overly anxious about the meeting.
• She is overly protective of her children.

Use this word to describe doing something much more than what is necessary, often indicating it is a problem.

• He exercises excessively every day.
• She spent an excessively large amount of money on clothes.

Use this word to indicate that something is happening to a greater extent than is necessary or appropriate, often signaling unfairness or improperness.

• She was unduly criticized for her mistake.
• The rules unduly restrict our activities.

Use this word to show that an action or effort is more than what is needed, often highlighting a lack of necessity.

• You are worrying unnecessarily about that exam.
• The report contains unnecessarily complex terms.

This is a less common word and is typically used in formal or literary contexts to indicate an unusual abundance.

• Let us not speak overmuch of such matters.
• He worried overmuch about trivial details.