excessive

UK: /ɪkˈsɛsɪv/ US: (ik ses′iv)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•ces•sive  (ik ses′iv), adj. 

1. going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree;
   characterized by excess:
   excessive charges; excessive criticism.

• Middle French
• 1350–1400; Middle English (see excess, -ive); replacing Middle English excessif

ex•ces′sive•ly, adv. 
ex•ces′sive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

immoderate, extravagant, inordinate, exorbitant, unreasonable.

Antonyms

reasonable.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

excessive / ɪkˈsɛsɪv/ adjective

1. exceeding the normal or permitted extents or limits; immoderate; inordinate

exˈcessively adverb

exˈcessiveness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cess /ɪkˈsɛs, ˈɛksɛs/  n. 

1. the fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree:
   [uncountable* in + ~ + of] The cost was in excess of our original estimate.
2. the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another:
   [countable] an excess of several hundred dollars.
3. an extreme amount or degree;
   too much:
   [uncountable] eating to excess.
4. [countable] immoderate indulgence, as in eating, drinking, etc.

adj. [before a noun]

5. more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified;
   extra;
   surplus:
   excess baggage.

ex•ces•sive, adj. 
ex•ces•sive•ly, adv. See -cess-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cess  (n. ik ses′, ek′ses;adj., v. ek′ses, ik ses′), n. 

1. the fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree:
   His strength is in excess of yours.
2. the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another:
   The bill showed an excess of several hundred dollars over the estimate.
3. an extreme or excessive amount or degree;
   superabundance:
   to have an excess of energy.
4. a going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper:
   to talk to excess.
5. immoderate indulgence;
   intemperance in eating, drinking, etc.

adj. 

6. more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified;
   extra:
   a charge for excess baggage; excess profits.

v.t. 

7. to dismiss, demote, transfer, or furlough (an employee), esp. as part of a mass layoff.

• Latin excessus departure, digression, equivalent. to exced-, variant stem of excēdere to exceed + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
• Middle English (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 3. surplus.

Antonyms

• 3. lack, deficiency.