overuse

/'ouvərju:s/

Thân thiện

He overuses his phone until the battery dies.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of using something too much or too often: "Overuse" refers to excessive or prolonged use of something, typically leading to negative consequences such as reduced effectiveness, damage, or depletion.
   • The state of being used excessively: It can also describe the condition of something that has been subjected to too much use.

2. Verb:

   • To use something too much or too often: To employ or utilize something more than is necessary, advisable, or sustainable, often resulting in harm, wear, or diminished value.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The overuse of antibiotics is a major public health concern.
  • The tendon injury was caused by the overuse of that muscle group.

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to overuse that catchphrase, or it will lose its impact.
  • Farmers must avoid overusing chemical fertilizers to protect the soil.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in a state of overuse": Describing something that is currently being used excessively.

  • The city's water supply system is in a state of overuse during the summer drought.

• Conceptual overuse: Applying an idea or method too frequently.

  • The overuse of flashbacks in the novel weakened the narrative structure.

Variants and Related Words

• Overused (adj): Describing something that has been used too much.

  • The overused phrase sounded cliché and insincere.

• Overutilization (n): A more formal synonym for overuse, especially in technical or economic contexts.

  • The report warned against the overutilization of natural resources.

Synonyms

• Noun: Excessive use, overutilization, misuse, abuse.
• Verb: Overwork, strain, exhaust, misuse, tax.

Related Phrases

• Overuse injury (n): A specific type of injury caused by repetitive motion or excessive strain.
  • Repetitive strain injury is a common overuse injury among office workers.

Idioms and Common Collocations

• To suffer from overuse: To experience negative effects due to being used too much.

  • The bridge is suffering from overuse and requires immediate maintenance.

• A victim of its own overuse: Describing something whose value or effectiveness has been destroyed by being used too frequently.

  • The marketing slogan became a victim of its own overuse and now irritates customers.

Học thuật

Noun

1. exploitation to the point of diminishing returns

Verb

1. make use of too often or too extensively

Từ đồng nghĩa

• overexploitation
• overutilization
• overutilisation
• overdrive