Need an excessive synonym? Start by asking what there is too much of. Money calls for exorbitant or steep, behavior calls for immoderate or extravagant, a dramatic reaction is over the top, and a vague surplus of anything can be undue or inordinate.
Every word here carries some disapproval, since excessive always means past the right limit. The difference is how loudly each one complains, and whether it suits a legal report, a restaurant review or a grumble to your roommate.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
undue, inordinate, exorbitant, extreme, unnecessaryPart of speech
AdjectiveMost formal
inordinate, immoderate, disproportionateMost casual
too much, over the top, a bit muchFor money
exorbitant, steep, extortionateAntonyms
moderate, reasonable, modestWatch out
Exceedingly means very, with no criticism. Excessively means too, and criticizes.Word forms covered
excessively, excess
An excessive synonym for each kind of too much
| Too much of | Pick from | Sample line |
|---|---|---|
| Something in general | undue, inordinate, needless, superfluous | The form asks for needless detail. |
| Cost | exorbitant, steep, extortionate, inflated | Parking near the stadium is steep. |
| Eating, drinking, spending | immoderate, intemperate, extravagant | Immoderate snacking ruined his appetite. |
| Emotion or style | over the top, overdone, exaggerated | The wedding speech felt overdone. |
| Force or penalty | unwarranted, gratuitous, heavy-handed | Critics called the fine heavy-handed. |
Superfluous and redundant lean toward useless extras, while inordinate stresses sheer size. Draconian belongs to rules and punishments that feel cruel.
Volume of complaint: mild to strong
Each chip, left to right, grumbles a notch louder. A bit much is gentle and friendly. Undue is calm and formal: undue stress, undue delay. Inordinate suggests a striking amount, such as an inordinate number of emails. Exorbitant nearly always targets money and implies unfairness. Outrageous is open anger.
Matching the strength to the situation keeps you credible. Calling a slightly long meeting outrageous makes readers doubt your judgment next time.
Six excessive phrases, rewritten
- Excessive fees becomes exorbitant fees or, in a chat, crazy fees.
- An excessive amount of time becomes an inordinate amount of time.
- Excessive drinking becomes heavy drinking or, formally, immoderate drinking.
- Excessive force by guards becomes unwarranted force by guards.
- Excessive decorations becomes over-the-top decorations.
- Excessive worry about grades becomes undue worry about grades.
A tenant emails a landlord: "The excessive repair charge seems excessive for one broken tile." Swapping both: "The repair charge of three hundred dollars looks disproportionate for one broken tile." A number plus a measured word lands harder than repetition.
Excessively and excess
For the adverb excessively, use overly, unduly, inordinately or plain too: excessively cautious becomes overly cautious. The noun excess pairs with surplus, glut, overabundance and overload: an excess of rain becomes a glut of rain, though a deluge sounds more natural for weather.
In excess of is stiff paperwork language for more than. Write more than fifty guests, unless a contract asks for stiffer language.
Look-alikes that give the wrong signal
Exceedingly sounds close but simply means very. An exceedingly kind host is a compliment, while an excessively kind host is a complaint. Extensive means wide in range, without judgment: extensive notes are thorough, not too long. Abundant and plentiful are positive, so they cannot replace excessive at all.
For neighbors that keep the strength but drop the idea of too much, look at extreme synonyms and intense synonyms.
Antonyms of excessive in use
Moderate, reasonable and modest describe the right amount. Measured and restrained praise self-control. If you mean too little, the opposite flips to insufficient or inadequate.
- The landlord agreed to a modest rent increase.
- Her reply was calm and measured.
Related words for things that serve no purpose are on the unnecessary page, and more adjectives sit in our describing words hub.
Frequently asked questions
For formal writing, which excessive replacement sounds right?
Inordinate and undue are the most formal general choices. Disproportionate works when you compare the amount to what was deserved or needed.
How would I describe an excessive price?
Exorbitant is the standard word, with extortionate for real anger and steep for a casual remark.
Is over the top the same as excessive?
It is a casual equivalent for style, emotion and display. It would sound odd in a legal or medical report.
Are exceedingly and excessively interchangeable?
No. Exceedingly means very and is often positive, while excessively means too and is critical.
Which antonym of excessive fits best?
Moderate is the most versatile opposite. Reasonable suits costs, and modest suits amounts or claims.