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Glite Dictionary
overzealous

overzealous

32 7.7
Being too eager and causing problems
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərˈziːələs/
translation icon : excesivamente entusiasta
  • The coach's overzealous strategies during practice often frustrated the players.
  • an overzealous emphasis

What's the connection between your dating life, your overzealous friend and Frodo Baggins?

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Examples

  • Derrick can be a little overzealous at times.

    Heist (2015)

  • We were perhaps a little overzealous on the last occasion.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The Secret Service can be a bit overzealous sometimes.

    Elvis & Nixon (2016)

  • Okay, okay, maybe I was a little overzealous, but give me a break, I just bought it.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Then they got a bit overzealous.

    The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

  • Maybe I was a little overzealous.

    From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

  • My partner's a little overzealous.

    Daredevil (2003)

  • Link is an overzealous yoga teacher.

  • Look, Detective Murphy was simply overzealous, okay?

    RoboCop (2014)

  • I actually began to get a little annoyed with Kayla's overzealous love for Ohio State.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

over-the-top
vsoverzealous
61 5.2

Very extreme or exaggerated in a way that seems unreasonable

is excessive too but specifically implies intrusive fervour rather than exaggeration
rabid
vsoverzealous
37 7.5

Showing extreme and unreasonable support for a person or idea

matches the same unreasonableness and also implies intrusive actions
fanatical
vsoverzealous
30 6.8

Very strong support for an idea or cause without question

is similarly extreme but also often crosses into intrusive behaviour
zealous
vsoverzealous
18 6.8

Being very excited and active about a cause or goal

is more excessive and can become unreasonable or intrusive
fanatic
vsoverzealous
8 4.3

Showing very strong enthusiasm for a cause in a way that ignores reason

is equally excessive but more likely to be intrusive or meddlesome
officious
vsoverzealous
5 8.6

Too ready to give help or advice when people do not want it

is similarly meddlesome but stems from excessive passionate zeal rather than duty
overeager
vsoverzealous
4 5.2

A person who is too excited and impatient and acts without thinking

is likewise excessive but often crosses into being intrusive
overenthusiastic
vsoverzealous
2 4.2

Feeling too excited or eager in a way that bothers other people

is similarly excessive but also tends to be intrusive or meddling
overexuberant
vsoverzealous
1 7.5

Being very lively or excited in a way that feels too much

is similar in excess but more likely to be intrusive or forceful
oversolicitous
vsoverzealous
1 9.9

Being too careful or worried about someone in a way that feels annoying

shares intrusiveness but is driven by fervent enthusiasm rather than care

Antonyms

moderate
415 3.3

Not very large or intense

restrained
5.3

Calm and controlled, not strong or showy

How Zealous

fanatical
30 6.8
overzealous
32 7.7
zealous
18 6.8
enthusiastic
175 2.7
interested
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

overzealous positive
overzealouser comparative
overzealously positive
overzealousest superlative

Morphology

overzealous = zealous (transparent) = over + zeal + ous

The adjective is formed by adding the productive prefix 'over-' (meaning excessively) to the adjective 'zealous', so the resulting meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Overzealous joins over- ('too much') and zeal ('great energy' or 'strong interest'), so imagine someone's enthusiasm going 'over' the normal limit. That's why an overzealous person is too eager and may go too far or be annoying.