Dictionary
1overkill
verb over·kill \ˌō-vər-ˈkil\
Definition of OVERKILL
transitive verb
: to obliterate (a target) with more nuclear force than required
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of OVERKILL
1957
Rhymes with OVERKILL
back and fill, Brazzaville, Chapel Hill, chlorophyll, coffee mill, daffodil, dishabille, double bill, escadrille, espadrille, Evansville, fiberfill, fill the bill, fit to kill, foreign bill, general will, hammer mill, Hooverville, if you will, Jacksonville, Libreville, living will, Louisville, microphyll, minimill, overfill, overspill, pepper mill, poison pill, puppy mill, razorbill, rolling mill, rototill, San Juan Hill, sleeping pill, Smoky Hill, sugar pill, tormentil, verticil, water mill, water pill, windowsill, whip-poor-will, winter-kill, Yggdrasil
2overkill
noun over·kill \ˈō-vər-ˌkil\
: something that is much larger, greater, etc., than what is needed for a particular purpose
Full Definition of OVERKILL
1
: a destructive capacity greatly exceeding that required for a given target
2
: an excess of something (as a quantity or an action) beyond what is required or suitable for a particular purpose <publicity overkill> <an overkill in weaponry>
3
: killing in excess of what is intended or required
See overkill defined for English-language learners
See overkill defined for kids
First Known Use of OVERKILL
1958
Related to OVERKILL
- Synonyms
- bellyful, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, excess, overmuch, overplus, oversupply, plethora, plus, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, surplusage
- Antonyms
- deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply
Learn More About OVERKILL
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up overkill? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).