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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
overused
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"overused" is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is used too often or more than it should be. For example: "I'm tired of hearing the same trope in every action movie; it's become overly overused!".
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Film
Lifestyle
Politics
Business
Science
Encyclopedias
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
fewer means smaller in number, eg fewer coins; less means smaller in quantity, eg less money Ffestiniog fiance male, fiancee female; but note divorcee is both male and female Fianna Fáil Irish political party fiasco like debacle and farce, overused in news stories: who says it's a fiasco?
News & Media
From a reader: "Please can you rein in the many writers who insist on dropping the word famously into their copy... as in famously overused, famously redundant or famously not really famous at all".
News & Media
Khan, who was a key ally of Ed Miliband, told the Guardian that some in the party had "rose-tinted glasses" about the Blair era and added: "A word I think you'll hear overused in the leadership contest is 'aspiration'aspiration
News & Media
That is a word, often overused by cinema critics, to describe work that is dreamy, elliptical and apparently disconnected from real life.
News & Media
This is a recurring device in Denis's films and one which, when overused, can frustrate the viewer and it is probably why, despite her star-studded cast, Denis has yet to cross over into the middle-brow middle ground occupied by most ordinary French cinema-goers.
News & Media
The former shadow justice secretary said the word "aspiration" was being overused in the party's leadership contest and some were looking back too favourably on the past.
News & Media
The word "boho" is overused.
News & Media
But apology, like anything else, declines in value if overused, becoming just a device to mitigate the consequences of incompetence.
News & Media
Sometimes drugs are overused: one study in Britain showed that two-thirds of prescriptions for so-called SSRI antidepressants, such as Prozac, were for "mild" depression, even though there is no good evidence that the drugs work in these cases.
News & Media
Over time, stocks of the common resource will dwindle.But in 40 years of studying how common resources from lobster fisheries in Maine to irrigation systems in Nepal are actually managed by communities, Ms Ostrom found that people often devise rather sophisticated systems of governance to ensure that these resources are not overused.
News & Media
European politicians may yet find themselves in a similar bind: having to explain to the sturdy burghers of Hamburg why it is in their interests to bail out braying City boys in London, or Latvians who overused their credit cards.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When criticizing a concept as "overused", provide specific examples to support your claim and avoid generalizations.
Common error
Avoid simply stating that something is "overused" without explaining why or what the negative consequences are. Provide context and specific reasons for your assessment.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The word "overused" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they have been used too much or too often. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in describing words, phrases, ideas, and even resources that have lost their impact or value due to excessive use.
Frequent in
News & Media
48%
Science
16%
Encyclopedias
8%
Less common in
Film
8%
Lifestyle
4%
Formal & Business
4%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The adjective "overused" effectively describes something that has lost its impact through excessive use. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and commonly used term. The phrase frequently appears in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, and carries a neutral formality. When employing "overused", it is important to provide specific examples, and consider synonyms like "hackneyed", "clichéd", or "trite" for variety. Remember to clearly articulate why something is deemed "overused" to avoid vagueness and enhance the clarity of your writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
hackneyed
Refers specifically to phrases or ideas that have become trite and stale through overuse.
clichéd
Identical to 'hackneyed', focusing on expressions that lack originality due to overuse.
trite
Similar to 'hackneyed' and 'clichéd', emphasizing the lack of originality.
overexploited
Similar in describing excessive use, but implies exploitation or depletion of a resource.
stale
Indicates a lack of freshness or originality due to being overused.
overdone
Suggests something has been used to excess, often in a negative way.
worn out
Describes something that has lost its effectiveness or appeal due to excessive use.
tired
Implies a loss of impact or interest because of overuse.
commonplace
Describes something that has become ordinary and uninteresting due to frequent occurrence.
banal
Indicates a lack of originality or depth, often due to overuse.
FAQs
How can I use "overused" in a sentence?
You can use "overused" to describe anything that has lost its impact or become trite due to excessive use, for example: "That metaphor is "overused" in modern literature."
What are some synonyms for "overused"?
Is it always negative to describe something as "overused"?
Yes, describing something as "overused" generally carries a negative connotation, implying that it has become ineffective, unoriginal, or boring due to excessive repetition.
What makes a word or phrase become "overused"?
A word or phrase becomes "overused" when it is used so frequently that it loses its original impact, becomes predictable, and no longer effectively conveys its intended meaning.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested