over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüz 
overused; overusing
: to use (something) too much : to use (something) excessively or too frequently
a word that has been greatly overused
At best, gatekeepers can keep everyone from overusing costly high-tech treatments when primary care is enough.—
Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
over·use
ˌō-vər-ˈyüs
: too much use : excessive or too frequent use
the overuse of antibiotics
athletes suffering from overuse injuries
His overuse of four-letter words—often a dozen per page—may accurately mirror a macho world where cussing is cool, but it is tedious to read.—Frederick Kaufman
Frederick Kaufman
Examples of overuse in a Sentence
Verb
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Before adding another one, remember that overusing them can cause health and skin problems in the long term.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Jonathan David Haidt, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
One time, my face was dried out from retinoid overuse, and this serum immediately soothed my skin and erased the dry patches and flakes.
—Jessie Quinn, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overuse 
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Verb
However, some companies will overuse AI, which will inevitably result in the destruction of trust for them, and ultimately, business failure.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Before adding another one, remember that overusing them can cause health and skin problems in the long term.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
In 2023, a survey on children’s health conducted by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital showed that the issues that most concern parents—ranked above school violence, drugs, and bullying—were the overuse of smartphones, social media and internet safety.
—Jonathan David Haidt, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2024
One time, my face was dried out from retinoid overuse, and this serum immediately soothed my skin and erased the dry patches and flakes.
—Jessie Quinn, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overuse
Dictionary Entries Near overuse
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overuse. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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