Excess Definition & Meaning

excess
adjective
  1. more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts"; "surplus cheese distributed to the needy"
noun
  1. a quantity much larger than is needed
  2. immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
  3. the state of being more than full
  4. excessive indulgence; "the child was spoiled by overindulgence"

Synonyms for excess

excessiveness noun

immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits

♫ Rhymes
extra adv

unusually or exceptionally; "an extra fast car" more than is needed, desired, or required

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
inordinateness noun

immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits

♫ Rhymes
overabundance noun

the state of being more than full a quantity that is more than what is appropriate

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
overindulgence noun

excessive indulgence; "the child was spoiled by overindulgence"

♫ Rhymes
redundant adj

more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
spare adj

thin and fit; "the spare figure of a marathon runner

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
supererogatory adj

more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
superfluous adj

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being; "otiose lines in a play"; "advice is wasted words

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
supernumerary adj

more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Excess" in song lyrics

See how excess is used in real songs:

  • "Anything that I'm doin, I'ma do in excess"
    The Away Team — Greedy
  • "We make love in excess"
    Binary Star f/ Brenda J — The Evolution of Man
  • "My guns in excess"
    Bishop Lamont — It Hurts

Words that rhyme with excess

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Usage tips for "excess"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "excess" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for excess to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with excess ↔ Synonyms for excess 🔬 Words containing excess

Frequently asked questions

What does excess mean?
more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
What part of speech is excess?
Excess is an adjective and a noun.
How many definitions does excess have?
Excess has 5 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adjective, noun).

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