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overcompliant

overcompliant

8.2
Being stricter about rules than needed and causing extra work
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərkəmˈplaɪənt/
translation icon : excesivamente cumplidor
  • Some organizations are overcompliant, implementing stricter policies than regulations require.

Examples

  • The team was overcompliant with all safety regulations.

  • Her overcompliant approach sometimes led to unnecessary delays in project approval.

  • The company became overcompliant after facing several fines in the past.

  • Is being overcompliant always a good thing?

  • Some organizations are overcompliant, implementing stricter policies than regulations require.

  • The company became overcompliant after facing several fines in the past.

  • Her overcompliant approach sometimes led to unnecessary delays in project approval.

Synonyms

overscrupulous
vsovercompliant
8.2

Being too careful about following rules or avoiding mistakes

is about exceeding formal requirements rather than avoiding small errors
overconscientious
vsovercompliant
9.3

Being too careful about doing the right thing or duties, often causing stress

is focused on exceeding rules and standards rather than moral duty

Antonyms

2 7.6

Not following rules or instructions

How Compliant

overcompliant
8.2
compliant
31 5.1
noncompliant
2 7.6

Surface Forms

overcompliant positive

Morphology

overcompliant = compliant (transparent) = over + compliant

The prefix 'over-' functions as an intensifier meaning 'excessively' applied to the adjective 'compliant', yielding the easily derivable sense 'excessively compliant'.

Etymology

Overcompliant combines the prefix over- meaning 'too much' and compliant, from comply meaning 'to follow' or 'to bend'. So an overcompliant company or rule-maker is 'bending too much' to rules and does more than is needed.