overly
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for overly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — To an excessive or unnecessary degree.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use overly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From over + the adverbial suffix -ly.
Full origin of overly →Frequently asked questions
What does “overly” mean?
The word “overly” means to an excessive or unnecessary degree. In plain terms, too much — used right before an adjective to mean "excessively.".
How do you use “overly” in a sentence?
Here is “overly” used in a sentence: “He's overly cautious when it comes to spending money.”
What part of speech is “overly”?
“Overly” is an adverb.
Is “overly” a common word?
“Overly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between overly and too?
Overly and too both signal excess, but overly tends to sound slightly more formal or written, as in overly cautious, while too is more common in everyday speech, as in too careful. They are largely interchangeable before an adjective.
Is it correct to write overly excessive?
No, overly excessive is redundant because excessive already means going beyond a proper or reasonable limit. Since overly means to an excessive or unnecessary degree, pairing it with excessive repeats the same idea.
What kinds of words does overly typically modify?
Overly almost always modifies adjectives or adverbs to show they go too far, as in overly cautious, overly complicated, or overly generous, rather than modifying nouns or verbs directly.