excessively keen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively keen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is overly enthusiastic or eager about something. Example: "Her excessively keen interest in the project made her the perfect candidate for the role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even on the issues of violence, pornography in popular culture and the death penalty -- traditional issues for Republicans -- Mr. Gore was more muscular in his response than Mr. Bush, who looked awkward when he gave a defensive answer about whether he was excessively keen on imposing the death penalty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A little too keen.

BBC

Too keen, perhaps.

The Economist

Holman isn't keen.

The Guardian - Music

PSG are also keen.

The Guardian - Sport

Are the lenders keen?

BBC

keen on studying its vector.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

I'm definitely quite keen".

BMC Medical Education

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

Others, too, are keen.

The Economist

No keening.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's enthusiasm, consider whether "excessively keen" accurately reflects the situation, or if a milder term like "very keen" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively keen" when a simpler adjective like "enthusiastic" or "eager" suffices, as overuse can make your writing sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively keen" functions as an intensifier (adverb "excessively") modifying an adjective ("keen"). It serves to describe the degree or extent of someone's eagerness or enthusiasm. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excessively keen" is used to describe an enthusiasm that goes beyond what is considered normal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its usage is infrequent. Alternative phrases, like "overly enthusiastic" or "unduly eager", can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, consider whether it is truly the best way to portray someone's level of enthusiasm or interest, as a milder expression might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly enthusiastic

Replaces 'keen' with 'enthusiastic' and 'excessively' with 'overly', emphasizing high spirits.

unduly eager

Substitutes 'keen' with 'eager' and 'excessively' with 'unduly', suggesting an inappropriate level of enthusiasm.

inordinately interested

Replaces 'keen' with 'interested' and 'excessively' with 'inordinately', indicating an unusually strong interest.

unusually passionate

Substitutes 'keen' with 'passionate' and 'excessively' with 'unusually', highlighting strong emotion.

extremely zealous

Replaces 'keen' with 'zealous' and 'excessively' with 'extremely', conveying intense fervor.

too avid

Replaces 'excessively keen' with 'too avid', offering a shorter alternative that implies over-eagerness.

over the top enthusiastic

Replaces "excessively keen" with the idiomatic expression "over the top enthusiastic", which suggests extreme enthusiasm.

immoderately fervent

Substitutes 'keen' with 'fervent' and 'excessively' with 'immoderately', suggesting a lack of restraint.

intensely driven

Replaces "excessively keen" with "intensely driven", suggesting a strong internal motivation.

exceedingly motivated

Replaces "excessively keen" with "exceedingly motivated", suggesting a high degree of inspiration to do something

FAQs

How can I use "excessively keen" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively keen" to describe someone who shows an inappropriate or disproportionate amount of enthusiasm or eagerness. For example: "He was "excessively keen" to volunteer for every task, which made his colleagues suspicious."

What are some alternatives to saying "excessively keen"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "overly enthusiastic", "unduly eager", or "inordinately interested".

Is it ever better to use "very keen" instead of "excessively keen"?

Yes, "very keen" is a more neutral and often more appropriate choice when you want to express enthusiasm without implying that it's inappropriate or over the top. "Excessively keen" suggests that the level of enthusiasm is somehow problematic.

What's the difference between "excessively keen" and "mildly interested"?

"Excessively keen" implies a strong, perhaps inappropriately strong, level of enthusiasm or eagerness, while "mildly interested" suggests a low to moderate level of interest.