Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Excessively enthusiastic or devoted: Showing too much zeal, eagerness, or fervor for a cause, idea, or activity, often to the point of being unreasonable or counterproductive.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The overzealous security guard checked everyone's ID three times.
  • Her overzealous promotion of the new policy annoyed her colleagues.
  • An overzealous approach to dieting can sometimes lead to health problems.

Advanced Usage

• "overzealous in (doing) something": Showing excessive enthusiasm in a specific action or area.
  • He was overzealous in enforcing minor rules, which made him unpopular.
• "overzealous prosecution": A legal term describing a prosecutor who pursues a case with excessive or unjustified vigor.
  • The case was dismissed due to evidence of overzealous prosecution.

Variants and Related Words

• Zealous (adj): Having or showing zeal; fervent. (This is the root word without the excessive connotation).
  • She was a zealous advocate for human rights.
• Overzealously (adv): In an overzealous manner.
  • He campaigned overzealously, which turned some voters away.
• Overzealousness (n): The quality or state of being overzealous.
  • His overzealousness was mistaken for genuine commitment.

Synonyms

• Fanatical: Marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.
• Rabid: Very extreme or violent; unreasonably zealous. (As seen in the reference: "rabid isolationist").
• Extremist: A person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views.
• Immoderate: Exceeding reasonable limits; excessive.

Antonyms

• Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
• Lukewarm: Only moderately warm; unenthusiastic.
• Indifferent: Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To go overboard: To do something to an excessive or unreasonable degree.
  • Decorating is fun, but there's no need to go overboard.
• Too much of a good thing: The idea that even something beneficial can become harmful if taken or done to excess.
  • His constant advice, while well-meaning, became too much of a good thing.

Adjective

1. marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea
   • rabid isolationist