excessively reasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessively reasonable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or person that is overly logical or fair to the point of being impractical or unrealistic. Example: "His excessively reasonable approach to negotiations made it difficult to reach a compromise, as he refused to consider any emotional factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even now, he is seen by some Utah conservatives as excessively reasonable on issues like immigration.

The New York Times

I still think that the movie is an excessively reasonable challenge to an unreasonable set of laws, but it's undoubtedly an intensely sincere, heartfelt, even passionate film, and if I could I'd apologize to him for having thought otherwise.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

This seems reasonable and not excessively intrusive.

The Washington Post

Safford argues that the search here is justifiable in scope because the nature of the infraction (drug possession) compared with the controlled conditions of the search is reasonable and not excessively intrusive.

Cornell University

Though this recommendation might be considered excessively strict, it is nevertheless reasonable, as it permits comparison between different studies.

BMC Infectious Diseases

In this light, concern over Corbyn's popularity is not based on the reasonable suggestion that our politics is excessively focused on personality.

The Guardian - Opinion

As for China, Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: Premier Li was quoted as saying that economic activity must be kept within a reasonable range - strongly suggesting that excessively weak Chinese growth will not be tolerated.

The Guardian - Business

The trial followed years of legal wrangling in which courts twice dismissed the case, finding that no reasonable person could have expected that excessively fast skiing would bring another person's death.

The New York Times

There are, however, reasonable anatomical and physiological constraints on inferring excessively high levels of browsing for these sauropods.

University of California, Berkeley

RNA models often failed to recover reasonable trees when single-stranded regions are excessively homoplastic, because these regions contribute a greater proportion of the data when covarying sites are essentially downweighted.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excessively reasonable" when you want to critique a position or person for being too moderate or logical, especially when emotional or practical considerations are being ignored. It often implies that a more assertive or pragmatic approach would be beneficial.

Common error

Avoid using "excessively reasonable" when you simply mean someone is rational or fair. The phrase carries a subtle negative connotation, suggesting the reasonableness is detrimental in the given context. Ensure that the situation warrants a critique of being too reasonable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively reasonable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a quality taken to an extreme. As Ludwig AI notes, it critiques a position for being too moderate or logical.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "excessively reasonable" is grammatically sound but relatively rare in usage. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and indicates it implies that something is overly logical, to the point of being detrimental. The phrase appears in news and media, and academic contexts, and carries a slightly negative connotation. When employing "excessively reasonable", ensure you aim to express disapproval about an excess of logic that ignores important practical or emotional aspects. Consider alternative phrases like "overly rational" or "impractically reasonable" to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overly rational

Focuses on the rational aspect being excessive.

unduly fair

Highlights the fairness aspect as being inappropriate in degree.

inappropriately reasonable

Directly states that the level of reasonableness is not suitable for the situation.

unjustifiably lenient

Shifts the focus to the leniency resulting from excessive reasonableness.

excessively accommodating

Emphasizes the willingness to please, perhaps to a fault.

impractically reasonable

Highlights the impracticality of being so reasonable.

too reasonable by half

An idiomatic expression suggesting the person is being far too reasonable.

overly conciliatory

Focuses on the aspect of trying to appease or reconcile.

excessively compromising

Highlights the willingness to compromise, possibly at the expense of one's own position.

unrealistically reasonable

Suggests the reasonableness is detached from reality.

FAQs

How to use "excessively reasonable" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively reasonable" to describe someone or something that is too fair or logical, often to a fault. For example: "His "excessively reasonable" approach made negotiations difficult."

What's the difference between "excessively reasonable" and "very reasonable"?

"Very reasonable" suggests a positive attribute, indicating someone is fair and logical. "Excessively reasonable", on the other hand, implies that being reasonable is taken to an extreme, potentially causing negative consequences.

What are some alternatives to "excessively reasonable"?

Alternatives include "overly rational", "unduly fair", or "impractically reasonable", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always negative to be "excessively reasonable"?

While "excessively reasonable" typically carries a negative connotation, the specific impact depends on the context. In some situations, prioritizing emotional factors or taking a firmer stance might be more effective than strict reasonableness.