Definitions for overkill

• Definition
• Anagrams (160)

overkill o·ver·kill

Spelling: [oh-ver-kil]

IPA: /ˈoʊ vərˌkɪl/

Overkill is a 8 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 15 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 18 points.

You can make 160 anagrams from letters in overkill (eikllorv).

Definitions for overkill

noun

1. the capacity of a nation to destroy, by nuclear weapons, more of an enemy than would be necessary for a military victory.
2. an instance of such destruction.
3. an excess of what is required or suitable, as because of zeal or misjudgment.

Origin of overkill

An Americanism dating back to 1945-50; over- + kill¹

Examples for overkill

At a certain point, political experts started to wonder whether it was overkill, as Gingrich started dropping in the polls.

I was there for four nights which seemed perfect; others were there 12 which seemed like overkill.

She denied that the 10 days of constant attacks amounted to overkill.

While we may have reached peak Downey here, his gift for gab—even under the most dire of circumstances—never seems like overkill.

Do you tell [people] the shocking truth -- that he was practically cut in half from the overkill of ammo fired into his body?

The same would apply to Democratic spending, too, of course, but the Democrats are less likely to hit the point of overkill.