excessive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'excessive' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use 'excessive' when something is greater or more than what is necessary or expected. For example: "The amount of noise from the construction site was excessive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jan Tilley, a final-year English student at the University of Leeds, struggled with excessive hair and acne due to the condition, and found that the visible signs disrupted her day-to-day life: "I felt insecure when I first found out, and it affected my confidence.

The Guardian

Asked to elaborate, he said: "We found them to be quite comical on account of how they were dressed and the excessive jewellery they were wearing".

The Guardian

"You can grow out of excessive debt, you cannot shrink out of excessive debt".

The Guardian - Business

Is there not a disparity between the commitment of the World Bank president, Jim Kim, to raise the incomes of the bottom 40% of the world's population with his organisation's Doing Business report, an annual study that ranks countries by the progress they are making in cutting corporate taxes, keeping minimum wages at low levels and ensuring that paid holidays and sick pay are not excessive?

The Guardian - Business

We must stop the excessive influence of big business in politics, which is today a major threat to true democracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the European court found that people have the right to ask for information to be removed from search results that include their names if it is "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive".

The Guardian - Opinion

Until he started work in February, the military pattern in Syria had been consistent for several months – occasional forays by rebels into urban areas followed by excessive reaction by government troops, with artillery, snipers, and mass arrests.

The Guardian - Opinion

The jail itself "systematically violated inmates' constitutional rights", according to a 2010 stipulation by the US Department of Justice, through the use of "excessive force by staff, the failure to protect inmates from harm by fellow inmates, inadequate medical and mental healthcare, and a lack of adequate fire safety and sanitation".

The Guardian

Excessive section 106 tariffs [which include deals on payments for affordable housing] just lead to no housing, no regeneration and no community benefits".

The Guardian

Both instinctively understood the ruinous consequences of communism, socialism and excessive government regulation.

The Guardian

Allen was considered "medium risk" by Radio 1, meaning there was "some history of swearing although not excessive".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive", ensure the context clearly defines what the usual or acceptable limit is. This provides a clear benchmark for comparison and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive" without specifying what is being exceeded. For example, instead of saying "The report was excessively long", specify what made it excessive: "The report was excessively long, exceeding the required page limit by 50 pages".

Linguistic Context

The adjective "excessive" primarily functions as a pre-modifier, describing the degree or extent of a noun. It indicates that something goes beyond what is considered normal, acceptable, or necessary. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive" is a versatile adjective denoting something beyond acceptable limits, frequently used across diverse contexts from news to formal business communications. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. When employing "excessive", ensure clarity by specifying what standard is being exceeded. While synonyms like "inordinate" and "extravagant" exist, each carries nuanced meanings. By understanding these distinctions, you can effectively convey your intended message, while the best practices ensure your language remains precise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immoderate

Highlights a lack of moderation or restraint, sharing a core meaning with "excessive".

inordinate

Implies an exceeding of reasonable limits or usual degree, similar to "excessive" but often suggests a violation of propriety or moderation.

undue

Suggests something is inappropriately or unjustifiably large or strong, differing slightly from "excessive" which simply denotes exceeding a norm.

extravagant

Focuses on lavish or wasteful expenditure, differing from "excessive" which can apply more broadly.

unreasonable

Indicates a lack of reason or justification, often implying something is "excessive" in its demands or expectations.

outrageous

Conveys a sense of being shockingly excessive or unacceptable.

exorbitant

Typically refers to prices or demands that are excessively high or unfair.

over the top

An informal expression indicating something is excessively dramatic or exaggerated.

intemperate

Signifies a lack of self-control, especially regarding alcohol consumption or expressing emotions, relating to "excessive" indulgence.

overmuch

An older or more formal way to express "too much" or "excessive" quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "excessive" in a sentence?

Use "excessive" to describe something that goes beyond reasonable limits. For instance, "The amount of paperwork required was "excessive", hindering productivity".

What are some synonyms for "excessive"?

Alternatives for "excessive" include "inordinate", "extravagant", or "immoderate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "excessive" or "too much"?

"Excessive" is more formal than "too much" and often implies a violation of standards or expectations. Use "too much" in informal contexts, reserving "excessive" for more formal or technical writing.

What's the difference between "excessive" and "surplus"?

"Excessive" implies going beyond a reasonable limit, often with negative connotations. "Surplus" simply means having more than is needed, without necessarily being negative. An "excessive" amount of debt is bad, while a "surplus" of resources can be beneficial.