overused
Done to death
Overused describes something employed so frequently that it has lost effectiveness or freshness.
An overused phrase becomes a cliché; an overused excuse stops being believed.
The word implies diminished impact through repetition: The twist ending is overused in horror films.
Something overused isn't necessarily wrong—just worn thin.
Overused and unoriginal
- triteOverused, lacking freshness
- banalUnoriginal and dull
- platitudinousOverused and unoriginal
- shopwornDeteriorated from display
stale · tired · threadbare · well-worn · formulaic · derivative · unoriginal · predictable
Depleted through overuse
- threadbareWorn until transparent
- frayedUnraveled at edges
- tatteredRipped and worn out
- shabbyWorn and neglected
ragged · faded · weathered · battered · beat-up · dilapidated · decrepit · timeworn
Utterly depleted of energy
- worn-outDepleted through overuse
- wearyDeeply tired, spent
- drainedEmptied of resources
- spentExhausted or disbursed
overworked · overstrained · overtaxed · debilitated · enervated · flagging · sapped · run-down
Utterly depleted of energy
- drainedEmptied of resources
- spentExhausted or disbursed
- consumedFully used or eaten
- emptiedRemoved all contents from
stripped · mined · overharvested · overfished · overdrawn · overworked · overgrazed · overtilled
Exceeding maximum concentration
- floodedCovered with water
- gluttedOverfilled to excess
- oversuppliedGiven excess stock
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
swamped · awash · overflowing · overstocked · overcrowded · surfeited · crammed · teeming
hackneyed
Overused and unoriginal
- triteOverused, lacking freshness
- banalUnoriginal and dull
- platitudinousOverused and unoriginal
shopworn · stale · tired · threadbare · well-worn · formulaic · derivative · unoriginal · predictable · commonplace
worn-out
Depleted through overuse
- threadbareWorn until transparent
- frayedUnraveled at edges
- tatteredRipped and worn out
shabby · ragged · faded · weathered · battered · beat-up · dilapidated · decrepit · timeworn · scruffy
exhausted
Utterly depleted of energy
spent · overworked · overstrained · overtaxed · debilitated · enervated · flagging · sapped · run-down · prostrate
exhausted
Utterly depleted of energy
emptied · stripped · mined · overharvested · overfished · overdrawn · overworked · overgrazed · overtilled · deforested
oversaturated
Exceeding maximum concentration
- floodedCovered with water
- gluttedOverfilled to excess
- oversuppliedGiven excess stock
inundated · swamped · awash · overflowing · overstocked · overcrowded · surfeited · crammed · teeming · brimming
- capacity levelsover capacity, at capacity, spare capacity, excess capacity, maxed out
overusedunderused
Not employed enough
underutilized · neglected · unused · untapped · unexploited
- overuse injuryDamage from repeated stress
- overuse injuriesDamage from repeated stress
- antibiotic overuseUnnecessary bacterial medication prescribing