overly
Beyond reasonable limits
Overly means excessively or too much: overly cautious, overly optimistic, overly complicated.
The word typically modifies adjectives and suggests a degree that becomes counterproductive or problematic.
She was overly concerned about what others thought.
Some usage guides prefer *too* or *excessively*, finding *overly* redundant or awkward, but it remains common in standard English.
Beyond proper measure
- tooAlso or overly
- undulyBeyond reasonable measure
- immoderatelyBeyond reasonable bounds
- inordinatelyBeyond reasonable measure
disproportionately · unreasonably · unnecessarily · extravagantly · superfluously · redundantly · gratuitously · wastefully
In a striking manner
- theatricallyIn a stagey manner
- melodramaticallyWith exaggerated emotional display
- hyperbolicallyWith deliberate overstatement
- bombasticallyIn pretentiously inflated style
flamboyantly · ostentatiously · pretentiously · showily · garishly · gaudily · overblown · overwrought
With intense aggression
- aggressivelyIn hostile, confrontational manner
- ardentlyWith intense feeling
- ferventlyWith intense passionate feeling
- passionatelyWith intense emotion
emphatically · forcefully · vehemently · intensely · zealously · fanatically · obsessively · compulsively
In a safeguarding way
- defensivelyIn a protective manner
- guardedlyWith protective caution
- warilyWith watchful caution
- timidlyIn fearful, hesitant fashion
hesitantly · tentatively · gingerly · carefully · meticulously · scrupulously · painstakingly · fastidiously
excessively
Beyond proper measure
- tooAlso or overly
- undulyBeyond reasonable measure
- immoderatelyBeyond reasonable bounds
inordinately · disproportionately · unreasonably · unnecessarily · extravagantly · superfluously · redundantly · gratuitously · wastefully · profusely
dramatically
In a striking manner
- theatricallyIn a stagey manner
- melodramaticallyWith exaggerated emotional display
- hyperbolicallyWith deliberate overstatement
bombastically · flamboyantly · ostentatiously · pretentiously · showily · garishly · gaudily · overblown · overwrought · overdone
fiercely
With intense aggression
- aggressivelyIn hostile, confrontational manner
- ardentlyWith intense feeling
- ferventlyWith intense passionate feeling
passionately · emphatically · forcefully · vehemently · intensely · zealously · fanatically · obsessively · compulsively · maniacally
protectively
In a safeguarding way
- defensivelyIn a protective manner
- guardedlyWith protective caution
- warilyWith watchful caution
timidly · hesitantly · tentatively · gingerly · carefully · meticulously · scrupulously · painstakingly · fastidiously · fussily
- intensifiersvery, really, extremely, absolutely, incredibly
overlyinsufficiently
To a lacking degree
inadequately · deficiently · moderately · reasonably · appropriately
- come overArrive at someone's place
- take overAssume control of something
- over thereAt a distance indicated
- run overStrike with a vehicle
- start overBegin from the beginning
- get over itAccept and proceed
over, oversee, overall, overtake, overdo, oversight, overrun, overbearing, overview