overzealous
adjective
over·zeal·ous
ˌō-vər-ˈze-ləs 
: 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
Peggy OrensteinThe village saw the orders as unwarranted interference from an overzealous state bureaucracy and promptly appealed.—Joe Treen and S. Avery Brown
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
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
Marie Brenner
Examples of overzealous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her overzealous fans created a security issue for the Tigers at one point during her collegiate career.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Were overzealous Christians seeking social relevance by forcing a connection?
—Rusty Wright, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
The misguided slogans of anti-Israel leftists and overzealous social-justice activists that echo the Iranian regime’s anti-Zionist talking points do nothing but harm the Palestinian cause.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overzealous
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.
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Were overzealous Christians seeking social relevance by forcing a connection?
—Rusty Wright, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025
The misguided slogans of anti-Israel leftists and overzealous social-justice activists that echo the Iranian regime’s anti-Zionist talking points do nothing but harm the Palestinian cause.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overzealous
Cite this Entry
“Overzealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overzealous. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share