adv

overly

adv

To an excessive or unnecessary degree.

"He's overly cautious when it comes to spending money."

"Don't be overly critical of your first draft."

How to Use Overly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishToo much — used right before an adjective to mean "excessively."

Common mistake

Always pairs with another adjective (overly cautious, overly sensitive) — it doesn't stand alone.

Common pairings

overly cautious overly sensitive overly critical overly simplistic

more overly comparative, most overly superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “overly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

He's _____ cautious when it comes to spending money.

From over + the adverbial suffix -ly.

miserly orderly elderly utterly eagerly Beverly Waverly fatherly motherly properly westerly formerly