overkill Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Overkill as a Noun
A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.
Destruction beyond what is necessary to kill, especially in murder.
An unnecessary excess of whatever is needed to achieve a goal.
24 hours of TV coverage of the US election verged on overkill.
An unnecessary excess of disposal because of too high criteria of inspection.
Overkill as a Verb
To destroy something with more (nuclear) force than is required.
To dispose of too many items because of too-high criteria of inspection.
To do something excessive to achieve a goal.
Overkill in a Sentence
24 hours of TV coverage of the US election verged on overkill.
Should I give you yet more homework, or would that be overkill?
Word Forms & Grammar
overkill (uncountable)
overkill (third-person singular simple present overkills, present participle overkilling, simple past and past participle overkilled)
Words That Rhyme With Overkill
Origin of Overkill
From over- + kill.
Overkill in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈəʊ.vəˌkɪl/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Meaning | A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons |
| Verb forms | overkills, overkilling, overkilled |
How Do You Say Overkill?
The standard pronunciation of overkill is /ˈəʊ.vəˌkɪl/, spoken in 3 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (əʊ).