overzealous

adjective

over·​zeal·​ous ˌō-vər-ˈze-ləs How to pronounce overzealous (audio)
: too zealous : having or showing too much zeal : excessively eager, enthusiastic, or fervent
overzealous parents
overzealous workers
… another version of the overzealous monitoring that has produced kids who leave for college without ever having crossed the street by themselves.Peggy Orenstein
The village saw the orders as unwarranted interference from an overzealous state bureaucracy and promptly appealed.Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown
overzealously adverb
… has been frequently accused by its critics of acting recklessly, overzealously, and even, at times, illegally. Steve Lustgarden
overzealousness noun
Jewell was annoyed that press descriptions of him always emphasized his "overzealousness"; he considers himself a man of details. Marie Brenner

Examples of overzealous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At times, Singer (who is himself a general surgeon) suggests that much government regulation of medical care is overzealous paternalism. John C. Goodman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 Shenanigans ensue when the camp is bought by an overzealous fitness mogul, played by Stiller. Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 2 May 2025 Only then does the world, overzealous and obsessed with countercultural trends, call it universal. Akilah Sailers, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025 But Stiller was also overzealous on set, Weiss said on a recent episode of Pod Meets World — a Boy Meets World rewatch podcast hosted by Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle. Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overzealous

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overzealous was circa 1628

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Cite this Entry

“Overzealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overzealous. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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