excessively obvious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively obvious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is so clear or apparent that it does not require further explanation or discussion. Example: "The solution to the problem was excessively obvious, making it difficult to understand why the team struggled for so long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Classical Hollywood, in the theorist David Bordwell's wonderful phrase, is "an excessively obvious cinema".

The New York Times

A praiseworthy, but excessively obvious, conscientiousness akin to that of "Les Sylphides" was evident in "Spectre de la Rose".

The New York Times - Arts

There were big, excessively obvious signs in the rooms that said things like "War Room" and "Bundlers"; they looked like props in a school play about a campaign.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

English ivy is extremely poisonous to cats and dogs and if your pet has eaten some, you will notice that they start drooling excessively, they are in obvious discomfort around the mouth and they may start pawing at the mouth.

WikiHow

The government's decision was not just unexpected, but it was also made without notice and in the absence of any obvious outcry against the census' being excessively nosy.

The New York Times

The first episode of season three was excessively predictable, more so than the previous seasons, with obvious plot setups left and right.

The New York Times

However, some signs of ill health are obvious, with sick sheep eating little, vocalizing excessively, and being generally listless.

Wikipedia

It is obvious that two-fold down regulated or excessively up regulated genes are randomly located along the entire length of Ch5b with no clustering.

Plosone

Similarly, I went from the standard, two-hole neckerchief slide to a hand-tooled three-hole model for obvious trinitarian reasons, and I affected gold shoulder cords, perhaps excessively, during my lapse into free-grace Arminianism.

The New Yorker

acs-20 mutant animals showed excessively high fluorescence intensity in the intestine (Fig. 2A), while acs-22 mutant animals showed no obvious abnormal intensity (data not shown).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excessively obvious" when you want to emphasize that something is not just obvious, but strikingly so, often to a degree that it might seem unnecessary or even excessive.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively obvious" too frequently, as it can sound redundant or condescending. Consider whether simply "obvious" or a more nuanced term might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively obvious" functions as an intensifier (excessively) modifying an adjective (obvious). It serves to emphasize the degree to which something is apparent or easily understood. As Ludwig AI highlights, it indicates a clarity that may even seem unnecessary.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively obvious" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the high degree to which something is apparent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While its frequency is relatively rare, it appears mostly in news and media contexts. When using it, consider whether the emphasis is necessary to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "patently obvious" or "blatantly obvious" may offer similar intensity with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

patently obvious

Replaces "excessively" with "patently", emphasizing the undeniable nature of the obviousness.

blatantly obvious

Substitutes "excessively" with "blatantly", highlighting the brazen or flagrant quality of being obvious.

glaringly obvious

Uses "glaringly" instead of "excessively" to suggest that the obviousness is striking and hard to miss.

painfully obvious

Replaces "excessively" with "painfully" to convey that the obviousness is unpleasant or unwanted.

abundantly clear

Changes the structure to emphasize clarity rather than obviousness but maintains a similar level of intensity.

overtly apparent

Replaces "obvious" with "apparent" and "excessively" with "overtly", indicating that something is plainly visible.

crystal clear

A more figurative way of saying very obvious; suggests that something is easy to see through.

unmistakably clear

Highlights the absence of any possibility of misunderstanding.

plain as day

An idiomatic expression meaning very easy to see or understand.

impossible to miss

Focuses on the inevitability of noticing something.

FAQs

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

You can use "excessively obvious" to describe something that is not just clear, but overwhelmingly so. For example, "The solution was "excessively obvious", which made the team's struggle even more puzzling."

What are some alternatives to "excessively obvious"?

Alternatives include "patently obvious", "blatantly obvious", or "glaringly obvious", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "excessively obvious"?

While "obvious" already implies a high degree of clarity, "excessively obvious" can be used for emphasis when something is strikingly or surprisingly clear. However, consider whether the added emphasis is necessary for your specific context.

What is the difference between "excessively obvious" and "slightly obvious"?

"Excessively obvious" suggests something is very clear and perhaps unnecessarily so, while "slightly obvious" indicates that something is somewhat apparent but not necessarily conclusive or significant. The former has a much stronger connotation than the latter.