as in extra
being over what is needed
any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in surplus
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to lay off
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excess
Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Working one at a time, dip cupcakes in warm chocolate glaze to coat all over, letting excess glaze drip back into bowl, then transfer cupcakes to bowl with coconut and toss to coat all over.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
To speak in verse is to tease, to cajole, to seduce, all actions that suggest an excess of desire.
—New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
You’ve been quoted as saying that that is really what the film is about — not so much drinking to excess as embracing the uncontrollable.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Adjective
The airline's excess capacity would then be used for military operations like transporting troops and cargo.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Working one at a time, dip cupcakes in warm chocolate glaze to coat all over, letting excess glaze drip back into bowl, then transfer cupcakes to bowl with coconut and toss to coat all over.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
The '80s were the decade of excess — and some bigger-than-life celebrity couples.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
To speak in verse is to tease, to cajole, to seduce, all actions that suggest an excess of desire.
—New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Over the past few months my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
You’ve been quoted as saying that that is really what the film is about — not so much drinking to excess as embracing the uncontrollable.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for excess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excess
Adjective
-
That can range from an extra $5 for the same-day delivery of flowers to $20 for overnight chocolates.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The mayor’s office says the measure would provide additional tax revenue for the city and extra beds for visitors during the 2028 Summer Olympics, with the measure expiring at the end of that year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over a decade later, the spirit of that push has become a core policy for Johnson, who persuaded aldermen to support a record $1 billion TIF surplus that yielded $572 million for Chicago Public Schools and $233 million for the city.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Those teams have areas of surplus and change-of-scenery candidates.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a controversial move, the school board opted to issue lay off notices for every member of the district office’s central staff — including the district’s top leader, Cancy McArn.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Walmart will close its Matteson fulfillment center and lay off 111 employees by May 29, the company said in a March 27 filing with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On that note, anyone have a spare million or two?—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
On-site assembly and integration of ITER project To manage technical risks, the project included a seventh spare module.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Because of the riotous abundance of color.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Also flying is the Lunar Trailblazer, a mission selected under NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program, a small satellite designed to provide an understanding of the form, abundance, and distribution of water on the moon, as well as the lunar water cycle.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hiring Liam Rosenior, sacked on Wednesday after just 107 days in charge, was a big error of judgement.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
John Franklin-Myers, who loved talking, sacking and eating Uncrustables, left as a free agent to the Titans.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Use it as a shoe rack in an entryway, a spot to display potted plants, or a pantry organizer for overflow.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Many do hire more doctors and nurses and orderlies in the ER to confront the overflow.—
Elisabeth Rosenthal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Regularly trim ground cover plants around trees.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excess. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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