Words / B2

ik-SES-iv/ɪkˈsesɪv/

Excessive means more than is reasonable, allowed, or healthy: excessive noise; an excessive dose. Excess is the noun; too much is everyday; extreme is a close twin (already in the dictionary). Calling a dose excessive is not enough; quote the mg and the limit. Mix-up: excessive vs successive; access; do not write excessive for a figure that sits inside the named limit.

Meaning

More than is reasonable, allowed, or healthy.

Examples

• “Calling a dose excessive is not enough; quote the mg and the limit, the science paper said.”
• “Excessive rainfall featured in the flood case, which is the climate sense — still quote mm against the average.”

Good to know

excessive + noun; an excessive amount / dose. Noun: excess. Close: extreme (already in B1) / undue. Trap: successive / a value inside the limit. Science, geography, and citizenship. More than is reasonable — quote the figure and the limit.

Near in meaning

undue, immoderate, too much

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