excessive love for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive love for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an overwhelming or extreme affection towards someone or something. Example: "Her excessive love for her pets often leads her to spoil them with treats and toys."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Catholic sources portray a ruthless, devious man driven by religious intolerance and an excessive love for intrigue.

Wikipedia

They can often be found in the world's poor shanty towns where unassuming peasants do not question their odd behavior and their excessive love for little children.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For example, according to John Stuart Mill (hereafter Mill), savages do not have the capacity for self-government because of their excessive love of freedom.

SEP

The philosophers also counselled against the excessive love of money.

The Guardian - Opinion

The excessive love of individual liberty that debases our national politics?

The New York Times - Magazine

Nature breeds intolerance and excessive love of nature always leads to totalitarianism.

The Guardian - Arts

It was her "unruly passion," Mather chided, that kept her from taking the counsel of her ministers to accept whatever God decided for the boy and she was duly punished for her excessive love when she died during the birth of her next child.

The New Yorker

It was her "unruly passion," Mather chided, that kept her from taking the counsel of her ministers to accept whatever God decided for the boy — and she was duly punished for her excessive love when she died during the birth of her next child.

The New Yorker

It was a pretty crazy reaction, and just shows how excessive the love for celebrities is in China.

Huffington Post

Her voltage may seem excessive when it's professing her love for Michael Kors and Yves Saint-Laurent, but, when she pushes back any gawkers with the line "You can't see what's under there, 'cause I'm a grown woman," she sounds appropriately immovable.

The New Yorker

Another chap, not someone I would have associated with excessive emotional outpourings, has been proclaiming undying love for the woman in his life in the sort of prose that makes me think he too has been abducted by aliens.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive love for", consider the context to ensure the intensity of the emotion is appropriate. Overuse can diminish the impact. Replace with something lighter, like "strong liking for" or "great affection for".

Common error

Avoid using "excessive love for" when a simple appreciation or strong liking is more appropriate. Overstating affection can come across as insincere or even obsessive. Instead of "excessive love for cooking", consider "strong interest in" or "passion for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive love for" primarily functions as a descriptive modifier. It highlights an intensity of emotion that surpasses typical affection. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and usable. This makes it suitable for adding emphasis or a critical perspective to a description.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excessive love for" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe affection that goes beyond normal or reasonable bounds. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and suitable for use in various contexts. It appears most frequently in News & Media and scientific contexts. While not extremely common, the phrase serves to express a sense of disproportionate or potentially problematic affection. When using the phrase, be aware of potential overstatement and its effects on your writing to avoid negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inordinate affection for

Replaces "excessive love" with "inordinate affection", suggesting an imbalance or disproportion in the feeling.

unreasonable fondness for

Substitutes "excessive love" with "unreasonable fondness", emphasizing the lack of logic or justification behind the strong affection.

exaggerated attachment to

Replaces "excessive love" with "exaggerated attachment", highlighting the intensity and potential overdependence.

over-the-top passion for

Uses more informal language to convey the idea of love that goes beyond what is considered normal or reasonable.

unhealthy obsession with

Conveys a more negative connotation, suggesting that the excessive love is bordering on or has become an obsession.

extreme devotion to

Replaces "excessive love" with "extreme devotion", highlighting the dedication and commitment involved, but suggesting it might be disproportionate.

undue infatuation with

Focuses on the irrationality and intensity of the feeling, suggesting a fleeting and potentially misguided passion.

boundless adoration for

Emphasizes the limitlessness of the love, implying it might be unrealistic or impractical.

immoderate enthusiasm for

Shifts the focus from love to enthusiasm, suggesting an excessive and potentially disruptive excitement or zeal.

uncontrollable yearning for

Highlights the compulsive and uncontrollable nature of the love, suggesting a strong desire that is difficult to manage.

FAQs

What does "excessive love for" mean?

The phrase "excessive love for" describes a love or affection that is considered to be more than what is usual, reasonable, or appropriate. It suggests an intensity of feeling that might be perceived as extreme or even unhealthy.

How can I use "excessive love for" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive love for" to describe someone's intense fondness or attachment to something. For example, "His "excessive love for" fast cars led him to spend all his money on them."

What are some synonyms for "excessive love for"?

Some synonyms for "excessive love for" include "inordinate affection for", "unreasonable fondness for", or "exaggerated attachment to".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "excessive love for"?

The phrase "excessive love for" is most appropriately used when you want to emphasize that someone's affection is not just strong, but is so intense that it might be seen as disproportionate, obsessive, or even detrimental.