Definitions

overkill

[oh-ver-kil] / ˈoʊ vərˌkɪl /

ADJECTIVE

exaggerated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abstract distorted excessive extravagant fabricated false farfetched hyperbolic inflated magnified melodramatic overblown overwrought preposterous pretentious stylized unrealistic

STRONG

amplified bouncing embroidered exalted overdone overestimated steep strained

WEAK

a bit thick artificial caricatural fabulous fantastic hammy highly colored histrionic histrionical impossible out of proportion schmaltzy sensational spectacular tall too much too-too

Antonyms

STRONGEST

actual believable calm factual moderate real realistic reasonable sensible straight

WEAK

depreciated minimized played down reduced understated unembellished unexaggerated

ADJECTIVE

excessive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disproportionate enormous exaggerated exorbitant extra extravagant extreme inordinate needless redundant steep superfluous unconscionable undue unreasonable

WEAK

boundless dissipated dizzying immoderate indulgent intemperate limitless more over overboard overmuch plethoric prodigal profligate recrementitious self-indulgent sky-high stiff stratospheric super superabundant supernatural too many towering unbounded unmeasurable way-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheap close economical essential inexpensive low mild moderate necessary needed reasonable sensible

WEAK

insufficient underdone

ADJECTIVE

extreme

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absolute dire drastic egregious exaggerated exceptional excessive extraordinary harsh irrational outrageous radical remarkable severe sheer unreasonable unusual utter

STRONG

desperate gross stern

WEAK

downright extravagant fabulous fanatical flagrant immoderate improper imprudent inordinate intemperate nonsensical out of proportion out-and-out preposterous rabid rigid strict thorough unbending uncommon uncompromising unconventional unseemly zealous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm common easy familiar good logical mild moderate nice normal ordinary pleasing reasonable regular sensible uncertain usual

WEAK

close limited near

ADJECTIVE

overabundant

Synonyms

WEAK

boundless disproportionate dissipated dizzying enormous exaggerated exorbitant extra extravagant extreme immoderate indulgent inordinate intemperate limitless more needless over overboard overmuch plethoric prodigal profligate recrementitious redundant self-indulgent sky-high steep stiff stratospheric super superabundant superfluous supernatural too many towering unbounded unconscionable undue unmeasurable unreasonable way-out

ADJECTIVE

overmuch

Synonyms

STRONG

extra extreme more needless over prodigal profligate steep stiff super supernatural

WEAK

boundless disproportionate dissipated dizzying enormous exaggerated exorbitant extravagant immoderate indulgent inordinate intemperate limitless overabundant overboard plethoric recrementitious redundant self-indulgent sky-high stratospheric superabundant superfluous too many towering unbounded unconscionable undue unmeasurable unreasonable way-out

Antonyms

STRONG

careful fewer less mild moderate necessary poor

ADJECTIVE

unreasonable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arbitrary excessive exorbitant extreme illegitimate improper inordinate senseless unconscionable undue unfair unjust unjustifiable unlawful unwarranted wrongful

WEAK

absonant costing an arm and a leg dear extortionate far-out immoderate intemperate out of bounds overmuch peremptory posh pricey steep stiff too great too much too-too uncalled-for unrightful unwarrantable up to here way-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

authorized decent ethical fair good just justifiable legal moderate moral rational reasonable right sensible unprejudiced warranted

WEAK

cheap economical logical low plain practical pragmatic realistic

ADJECTIVE

unreasoned

Synonyms

WEAK

absonant arbitrary costing an arm and a leg dear excessive exorbitant extortionate extreme far-out illegitimate illogical immoderate improper inordinate intemperate irrational out of bounds overmuch peremptory posh pricey senseless steep stiff too great too much too-too uncalled-for unconscionable undue unfair unjust unjustifiable unlawful unrightful unwarrantable unwarranted up to here way-out wrongful

NOUN

excess

Synonyms

STRONGEST

exuberance glut surplus waste

STRONG

balance by-product enough exorbitance fat fulsomeness inundation lavishness leavings leftover luxuriance nimiety overflow overload overmuch overrun oversupply overweight plenty plethora profusion redundance redundancy refuse remainder residue rest spare superabundance supererogation superfluity surfeit wastefulness

WEAK

overdose recrement the limit too much too much of a good thing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

insufficiency lack need want

STRONG

base core few little scarcity

WEAK

dearth deficiency deprivation economy frugality moderation poverty privation shortcoming

NOUN

overabundance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

plethora

STRONG

glut nimiety overflow overmuch oversupply profusion superabundance superfluity surfeit surplus surplusage

WEAK

embarrassment of riches too much

Antonyms

STRONG

lack necessity need want

WEAK

scarcity

NOUN

overage

Synonyms

STRONG

balance excess fat glut overflow overmuch overrun oversupply plethora plus remainder residue superabundance superfluity surfeit surplusage

WEAK

overstock something extra the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core insufficiency lack need want

NOUN

overflow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deluge flash flood overabundance torrent

STRONG

Niagara advance cataclysm cataract congestion discharge encroachment enforcement engorgement excess exuberance flooding infringement overcrowding overmuch overproduction plethora pour propulsion push redundancy spate spill spillover submergence submersion superfluity surfeit surplus

Antonyms

STRONG

discouragement insufficiency lack necessity need want

NOUN

overmuch

Synonyms

STRONG

balance excess fat glut overage overflow overrun oversupply plethora plus remainder residue superabundance superfluity surfeit surplusage

WEAK

overstock something extra the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core insufficiency lack need want

NOUN

overstock

Synonyms

STRONG

balance fat glut overflow overrun oversupply remainder surfeit

WEAK

excess overage overmuch plethora plus residue something extra superabundance superfluity surplusage the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core lack need want

NOUN

oversupply

Synonyms

STRONGEST

glut

STRONG

balance excess fat overage overflow overmuch overrun overstock plethora plus remainder residue superabundance superfluity surfeit surplusage

WEAK

something extra the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core lack need want

NOUN

plethora

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deluge excess glut overabundance plenty profusion surfeit

STRONG

flood much overflow overmuch superabundance superfluity surplus

WEAK

many

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lack scarcity shortage want

STRONG

rarity

WEAK

little

NOUN

superfluousness

Synonyms

WEAK

balance by-product embarrassment enough excessiveness exorbitance extravagance extravagancy extravagantness exuberance fat fulsomeness glut inundation lavishness leavings leftover luxuriance nimiety overabundance overdose overflow overload overmuch overrun oversupply overweight plenty plethora profusion recrement redundance redundancy refuse remainder residue rest spare superabundance supererogation superfluity surfeit surplus the limit too much too much of a good thing waste wastefulness

NOUN

surfeit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

glut plethora profusion

STRONG

bellyful overabundance overflow overindulgence overmuch overplus plenitude remainder repletion satiety satisfaction saturation superabundance superfluity surplus

WEAK

overfullness up to here

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lack need want

WEAK

base core main necessity

NOUN

surplus

Synonyms

STRONGEST

balance

STRONG

excess overage overflow overmuch overrun oversupply plethora plus remainder residue superabundance superfluity surfeit surplusage

WEAK

overstock something extra the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core lack need want

WEAK

necessity

NOUN

surplusage

Synonyms

STRONG

balance excess fat glut overage overflow overmuch overrun oversupply plethora plus remainder residue superabundance superfluity surfeit

WEAK

overstock something extra the limit too much

Antonyms

STRONG

base core insufficiency lack need want

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Expensive GPU-filled servers were overkill, and data-center customers mostly bought CPU servers to run websites, databases, applications, and other traditional workloads.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The overkill hits its nadir when the Bride repeatedly wails the survivors’ hashtag, “Me too!”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

Still, the assembled armada seems overkill for that goal.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2026

For me, it happens often enough that this approach feels less like overkill and more like mercy.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2026

Sometimes, the mechanisms used for overkill are immunologic, but often, as in the limulus model, they are more primitive kinds of memory.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

overkill

Example Sentences

Related Words