as in to stereotype
to use so much as to make less appealing
she had overused that joke to the point where it was eliciting groans and not guffaws
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overuse
This can happen if the arthritis is in your left hip or if the root cause is on your right side, but your body is compensating by overusing muscles on the left side of your back.
—
Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
Using heat-protection sprays and blow-dry-specific products can also help minimize damage, though Sahin warned against overusing styling products.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Desperate for youth and beauty, Elisabeth’s new younger self (who names herself Sue) quickly gets careless and starts overusing her time, which causes Elisabeth’s body to rot away.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This could be due to cold, dry weather, sweating, not drinking enough water, or overusing strong actives (like exfoliating acids and retinol, which can potentially weaken your barrier).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025
Using heat-protection sprays and blow-dry-specific products can also help minimize damage, though Sahin warned against overusing styling products.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Desperate for youth and beauty, Elisabeth’s new younger self (who names herself Sue) quickly gets careless and starts overusing her time, which causes Elisabeth’s body to rot away.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This could be due to cold, dry weather, sweating, not drinking enough water, or overusing strong actives (like exfoliating acids and retinol, which can potentially weaken your barrier).
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overuse
Verb
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The result is a stunning look at Black suffering and Black joy, and how a group of people who have been stereotyped as avoiding water actually have a deep and meaningful history with the ocean.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
5 Mar. 2025
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Employers assume late-career professionals are more expensive due to the additional experience, and some may stereotype them as less adaptable.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When a player like McKinstry begins receiving everyday at-bats, there is a risk of that player getting overexposed — too many miles on the Cadillac.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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Today’s fashion can sometimes feel overexposed: Fewer looks are being produced, and those that arrive simultaneously online, in editorials and advertising, and on the red carpet tend to garner more attention than anything else.—
Amanda Harlech,
Vogue,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff; Matthias Balk/Getty Images Starting today, Bluesky is rolling out a new verification system, complete with the familiar blue check marks popularized by Twitter.—
Kate Knibbs,
Wired News,
21 Apr. 2025
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Believed to have originated in 15th-century Italy as a card game used by nobility, the original deck was expanded and popularized by 18th-century French occultists; and again later in the 20th century, when modern tarot was born thanks to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, published in 1909.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions.—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
28 Oct. 2019
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Ever since his rise to power, Trump has served as a vulgarizing agent.—
Leon Neyfakh,
Slate Magazine,
2 June 2017
Verb
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They will be exhausted after Grandma wrangling for 4 hours.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Officers must make life-or-death decisions while exhausted, both physically and emotionally.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But don’t overdo it—a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found three sets of 30 seconds of rolling daily is enough to improve symptoms.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
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Washing items with fabric softener can also help with wrinkle prevention, but don't overdo it.—
Katelyn Squiers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This strategy worked for him for about 10 years—and then began to bore him silly.—
Art Spiegelman,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
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The real struggle was getting reacquainted with being bored.—
Andrew Mambo,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overuse. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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