overkill

Meaning

Noun

1. (literally, uncountable) A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.
2. (literally, uncountable) Destruction beyond what is necessary to kill, especially in murder.
3. (broadly, uncountable) An unnecessary excess of whatever is needed to achieve a goal.
4. (uncountable) An unnecessary excess of disposal because of too high criteria of inspection.

Verb

1. (transitive) To destroy something with more (nuclear) force than is required.
2. To dispose of too many items because of too-high criteria of inspection.
3. To do something excessive to achieve a goal.

Opposite of

underkill

Synonyms

exaggeration

extermination

overdone

excessive force

Translations

Übermaß

écraser une mouche avec un marteau

surpuissance

exceso

exagero

Overkill

exagération

excès

matraquage

outrance

eccessivo

esagerazione

overdrijving

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈəʊ.vəˌkɪl/

Etymology

From over- + kill.