excessively

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'excessively' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe things that are done to an extreme or in large quantities. For example: "The driver was excessively speeding down the highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Should women who drink excessively while pregnant be criminalised?

The Guardian - Opinion

It is only because the pay and conditions of leading professional footballers were so recently those of moderately skilled factory helots that Best and his contemporaries look so excessively and immodestly affluent".

The Guardian

Although Labour pro-Europeans do not object to a separate Labour campaign, there is concern that the party may back off from full support for the EU, as well as focusing excessively on winning back Ukip voters, as opposed to Conservative voters.

The Guardian

Its author raged at the "excessively harsh sentences imposed on these boys".

The Guardian

As you know, because of government benefit caps many landlords are not willing to house tenants who are on benefits or are increasing the rent excessively and many of those properties are in a poor condition.

The Guardian

A wide-ranging independent review of the government's controversial benefit sanctions regime is urgently needed to address widespread concerns that it is unfair, excessively punitive, and does little to help people get into work, according to a cross-party committee of MPs.

The Guardian

The grievances included "nonpayment of wages; withholding of passports; excessively long working hours without rest; and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse".

The Guardian

As far as trends go, double‑breasted is fashionable again, after decades of obsolescence, and a very slightly more relaxed cut – a softer shoulder, a fractionally longer jacket, trousers fitted but not cut quite so close – has arrived to liberate us all from the excessively buttoned-up, Mad Men-inspired 60s-style suits of the past decade.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Instead, he says we should be looking at "excessively controlling management practices and insecure labour market conditions".

The Guardian

Pregnant women who are drinking excessively will always need support if they are to be helped to stop.

The Guardian - Opinion

Excessively preoccupied about how he looked and how he appeared to others, he responded to his girlfriend's doubts by suddenly buying two prestige Audis – a his and a hers – just before the crash.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excessively" to precisely convey that something exceeds reasonable or acceptable limits, adding emphasis and clarity to your writing.

Common error

While "excessively" is appropriate in formal writing, consider using more informal alternatives like "too much" or "really" in casual conversation to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "excessively" primarily functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that an action or quality is present to an extreme or unacceptable degree. Ludwig provides examples of its use in various contexts to emphasize this excessive nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "excessively" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe something that exceeds acceptable limits. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's apt for adding emphasis in diverse contexts. While it enjoys considerable usage in news, formal business settings, and scientific documents, it is rarer within encyclopedias or wikis. When seeking synonyms, consider alternatives such as "inordinately" or "overly" for shades of similar meaning. Ensure the level of formality in your writing aligns with the context; avoid using it too often in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceedingly

Focuses on the surpassing of a typical or expected degree, suggesting a high level or intensity.

overly

Indicates a degree that is more than necessary or desirable, often implying a negative consequence.

inordinately

Emphasizes a violation of reasonable limits, often suggesting something is out of proportion.

immoderately

Suggests a lack of restraint or moderation, indicating an extreme and often uncontrolled level.

unduly

Highlights that something is inappropriate or unwarranted, implying an unfair or unjustifiable level.

unreasonably

Points to a lack of justification or logic, implying an unfair or irrational degree.

to a fault

Implies that a characteristic or quality is so strong that it becomes a negative aspect.

disproportionately

Indicates an imbalance or lack of proper relation between things, suggesting that something receives too much or too little attention or resources.

unjustifiably

Emphasizes the lack of a valid reason or excuse, suggesting that something is excessive and without merit.

out of all proportion

Highlights a significant lack of balance or proper relationship, implying that something is far too large or significant in relation to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "excessively" in a sentence?

"Excessively" is an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating something is done to an extreme degree. For example, "The report was "excessively long"" or "He worried "excessively about" the presentation."

What are some words with similar meanings to "excessively"?

Synonyms for "excessively" include "overly", "unduly", "inordinately", and "exceedingly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "excessively" in writing?

The word "excessively" is suitable for formal or neutral writing contexts where a precise and somewhat emphatic expression of exceeding a limit is desired. Consider context and audience when choosing between "excessively" and less formal options.

Is "excessively" interchangeable with "very"?

While both "excessively" and "very" intensify meaning, "excessively" implies exceeding a reasonable or acceptable limit, whereas "very" simply indicates a high degree. Using "The food was "very salty"" doesn't necessarily imply it was unpleasantly so, but "The food was "excessively salty"" does.