Overkill

Quick meaning: Overkill is a noun meaning (literally, military) A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.

Meaning

(literally, military) A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.

More Meanings

1. (literally) Destruction beyond what is necessary to kill, especially in murder.
2. (by extension) An unnecessary excess of whatever is needed to achieve a goal.
3. (manufacturing) An unnecessary excess of disposal because of too high criteria of inspection.
4. (transitive) To destroy something with more (nuclear) force than is required.
5. (manufacturing) To dispose of too many items because of too-high criteria of inspection.
6. To do something excessive to achieve a goal.

Example Sentences

24 hours of TV coverage of the US election verged on overkill.

Should I give you yet more homework, or would that be overkill?

For some killers with a great deal of love/hate for their victims, it [an edged weapon] is the perfect instrument for a maniacal overkill.

Bodies that have been stabbed or shot multiple times—far beyond what was sufficient to kill the victim (overkill)— suggest that the victim and assailant knew each other, […]

Word Forms

• overkills
• overkilling
• overkilled

Antonyms for overkill

Common opposites include underkill.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include overdone, overreaction, overblown, exaggerated, undue, excessive.

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