overzealous
/'ouvə'zeləs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea
- rabid isolationist