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Definition of overly

overly

/ˈoʊvərli/
o · ver · ly
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overly Lexical Profile

overly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

To an excessive or exaggerated degree; too; excessively.

Example

"The committee felt that the new regulations were overly restrictive for small businesses."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for overly

• Nearby Words

overlook
overlord
overloudly
overly
overmanage
overmanagement
overmanager

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English oferlic ('excessive') and oferlice ('excessively'), formed from ofer ('over') + -lic / -lice ('-ly'). Although used continuously since Old English, the word fell out of favor in Britain for centuries before being revived and popularized via American and Scottish English in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Overly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/overly
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