Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [oh-ver-kil]
- /ˈoʊ vərˌkɪl/
- /ˈəʊ.və.kɪl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [oh-ver-kil]
- /ˈoʊ vərˌkɪl/
Definitions of overkill word
- noun overkill the capacity of a nation to destroy, by nuclear weapons, more of an enemy than would be necessary for a military victory. 1
- noun overkill an instance of such destruction. 1
- noun overkill an excess of what is required or suitable, as because of zeal or misjudgment. 1
- noun overkill sth excessive 1
- noun overkill large nuclear capability 1
- uncountable noun overkill You can say that something is overkill when you think that there is more of it than is necessary or appropriate. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of overkill
First appearance:
before 1945 One of the 6% newest English words
An Americanism dating back to 1945-50; over- + kill1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Overkill
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
overkill popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 71% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
overkill usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for overkill
adj overkill
- absonant — inharmonious
- caricatural — a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things: His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn.
- hammy — characteristic of a person who overacts.
- hyperbolic — having the nature of hyperbole; exaggerated.
noun overkill
- bellyful — as much as one wants or can eat
- byproduct — A byproduct is something that is produced during the manufacture or processing of another product.
- luxuriance — luxuriant growth or productiveness; rich abundance; lushness.
- engorgement — The process or the condition of becoming engorged, becoming over-filled with fluid.
- excess — An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.
adjective overkill
- amplified — Simple past tense and past participle of amplify.
- embellished — Simple past tense and past participle of embellish.
- embroidered — Decorate (cloth) by sewing patterns on it with thread.
- exaggerated — That has been described as greater than it actually is; abnormally increased or enlarged.
- excessive — More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.
Antonyms for overkill
adjective overkill
- depreciated — Simple past tense and past participle of depreciate; reduced in value over time.
- minimised — Simple past tense and past participle of minimise.
- minimized — Simple past tense and past participle of minimize.
Top questions with overkill
- what does overkill mean?
- what is overkill?
- overkill who tends the fire?
- who sang overkill?
- how to play overkill?
- how to play overkill on guitar?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with o
- Words starting with ov
- Words starting with ove
- Words starting with over
- Words starting with overk
- Words starting with overki
- Words starting with overkil
- Words starting with overkill