Excessive describes something that is much more than is reasonable, needed, or acceptable. It suggests that the amount has gone beyond healthy or normal limits.
It comes from Latin 'excessivus', from 'excedere' meaning 'to go out, go beyond', from 'ex-' (out) and 'cedere' (to go). The word keeps the idea of going beyond proper bounds.
Excessive isn’t just 'a lot'; it’s 'so much that it backfires'. Whether it’s noise, homework, or screen time, the word quietly asks: 'At what point does more stop helping and start hurting?'
The term “excessive” has often been applied in gendered ways to police women’s and gender-diverse people’s emotions, clothing, and speech (e.g., “excessive makeup,” “excessive emotion”), especially in professional and public contexts. This has contributed to double standards where similar behavior from men is framed as strong, passionate, or assertive rather than excessive.
Use “excessive” for clearly defined, measurable overuse or disproportion (e.g., dosage, cost, time) rather than to police appearance or emotion in gendered ways. When describing people’s behavior, be specific about the impact (e.g., “disruptive,” “over budget”) instead of vague moral judgments.
["disproportionate","more than necessary","overly strict","overly lenient","over budget","too high","too frequent"]
Women scholars and activists in psychology, sociology, and gender studies have documented how labels like “excessive” and “hysterical” have been used to delegitimize women’s anger and leadership; their work underpins more precise, less biased language norms.
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