English Lexicon

Excessive

/ɪkˈsɛsɪv/
adjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.

    "The company faced criticism for charging excessive fees for standard services."
  2. 2

    Greater in size, amount, or degree than what is reasonable or lawful.

    "She had to pay a fine for driving at an excessive speed."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'excessive' originates from the Latin 'excessivus', meaning 'going beyond', which evolved through Middle English. Its usage has shifted from a neutral description of quantity to a more negative connotation, often implying something that is too much or unwarranted.

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