overbroad
Excessively wide-ranging
Overbroad describes something too wide in scope or application, lacking necessary limits or precision.
The term appears most often in legal contexts, where an overbroad law or regulation restricts more activity than intended or constitutionally permitted: The statute was struck down as overbroad.
Outside law, it criticizes generalizations or categories that sweep in too much: an overbroad definition of terrorism.
Extensive and far-reaching
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- expansiveCovering a large area
- far-reachingHaving broad impact
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
excessive · immoderate · unwarranted · disproportionate · indiscriminate · blanket · catch-all · dragnet
Violating fundamental law
- vaguenessAbsence of precision
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- statuteEnacted written rule
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
judicial review · First Amendment · chilling effect · strict scrutiny · due process · sweep · invalidate · restraint
Lacking exactness or accuracy
- undefinedNot clearly delineated
- nonspecificNot clearly defined
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- nebulousUnclear and formless
unclear · loose · general · unspecified · indeterminate · amorphous · ill-defined · open-ended
sweeping
Extensive and far-reaching
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- expansiveCovering a large area
- far-reachingHaving broad impact
all-encompassing · excessive · immoderate · unwarranted · disproportionate · indiscriminate · blanket · catch-all · dragnet · heavy-handed
unconstitutional
Violating fundamental law
- vaguenessAbsence of precision
- overreachingExceeding proper limits
- statuteEnacted written rule
injunction · judicial review · First Amendment · chilling effect · strict scrutiny · due process · sweep · invalidate · restraint · regulation
imprecise
Lacking exactness or accuracy
- undefinedNot clearly delineated
- nonspecificNot clearly defined
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
nebulous · unclear · loose · general · unspecified · indeterminate · amorphous · ill-defined · open-ended · inexact