as in extra
being over what is needed
any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lay off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excess
Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
These kinds of kitty litter absorb excess humidity and prevent mold or mildew.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025
Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
At the same time, China was being ravaged at home by the excesses of the Cultural Revolution.
—Michael McFaul, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2025
Allison Stewart, chicagotribune.com, 11 July 2019
Meacham is a nonideological historian and McGraw is a country star, two professions that were built for caution, something McGraw occasionally takes to excess.
—Allison Stewart, chicagotribune.com, 11 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for excess
Adjective
To avoid these potentially destabilizing effects, military leaders will need to explain what the country stands to lose if the military devotes excess time, resources, and attention to domestic operations and fails to adhere carefully to the laws of war.
—Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
These kinds of kitty litter absorb excess humidity and prevent mold or mildew.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Both Andrews and Willis agree that for all the trials along the way, there has been an excess of gestures, big and small, of support and camaraderie.
—Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
At the same time, China was being ravaged at home by the excesses of the Cultural Revolution.
—Michael McFaul, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Meacham is a nonideological historian and McGraw is a country star, two professions that were built for caution, something McGraw occasionally takes to excess.
—Allison Stewart, chicagotribune.com, 11 July 2019
Meacham is a nonideological historian and McGraw is a country star, two professions that were built for caution, something McGraw occasionally takes to excess.
—Allison Stewart, chicagotribune.com, 11 July 2019
See All Example Sentences for excess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excess
Adjective
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Beachgoers are going to have to take one extra step before catching waves and rays of sun.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
However, limited exceptions exist, including: Military personnel serving in combat zones may get extra time.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That, and the surplus of mentors who played for Dad before him.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Mar. 2025
-
During the Legislature’s budget session in 2023, Minnesota was working with an $18 billion surplus and approved a budget of $72 billion, a jump from the previous $52 billion budget.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hartford Courant Most Popular Most Popular CT manufacturer to close corporate headquarters, lay off workers.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Most Popular Most Popular CT manufacturer to close corporate headquarters, lay off workers.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The figure is roughly life-size, rendered in spare, firm strokes of black acrylic applied with Japanese brushes to sizable sheets of paper.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Thomas reportedly called the Coast Guard after realizing his spare anchor would not hold the ship's weight.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The city was sacked again — this time by the Turks — and incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.—
Danuta Hamlin,
FOXNews.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
At the crossroads of Roman roads in ancient Gaul, Cassel was sacked by the Vikings in the late 9th century, and later became a 17th-century war prize fought over by France and Spain.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
AFAR Media,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The idea of trimming the tree during Masters week with so many people nearby did not seem logical.—
Bob Spear,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
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Its snug cabin is beautifully trimmed in high-quality materials, and features wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Note that synthetic data is not about replacing real data but augmenting it to remove bottlenecks and drive AI innovation.—
Aditi Godbole,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Quantum internet removes that risk by ensuring only the sender and receiver can read a message, so not even the hosting platform can access it.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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President Trump’s administration is cutting nearly 90 percent of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) employees in a push to significantly downsize the watchdog agency formed to shield U.S. consumers from financial fraud and abuse.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
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The move is the Trump administration's latest to downsize and overhaul the federal government.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excess. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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