Excess — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ik-ˈses/ ex·cess

Meaning & Definition of Excess

Excess (noun)

  1. the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits, superfluity
  2. the amount or degree by which one thing or quantity exceeds another
  3. undue or immoderate indulgence, intemperance; also, an act or instance of intemperance

Excess (adjective)

  1. more than the usual, proper, or specified amount

Excess (verb)

  1. to eliminate the position of

Excess (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being over what is needed

    "any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless"

    similar: extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus
    related: accessory, additional, supplemental, supplementary, de trop, dispensable, extraneous, gratuitous, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, plenteous, plentiful
    near: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, short, shortish, skimpy, sparse

Excess (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: bellyful, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, overplus, oversupply, plethora, plus, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, surplusage
    related: abundance, bounty, plentitude, plenty, profusion, sufficiency, overproduction, overstock
    opposite: deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply
    near: dearth, lack, scarcity, want

  2. 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"

    similar: excessiveness, exorbitance, immoderacy, immoderation, insobriety, intemperance, intemperateness, nimiety
    related: extravagance, prodigality, extremism, irrationality, radicalism, unreasonableness
    opposite: moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness

Excess (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in trim, downsize

    similar: downsize, furlough, lay off, trim, ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate, turn off, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
    opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on, keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Excess

The most common words with a similar meaning to Excess:

extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus, bellyful, fat, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, overplus, oversupply, plethora, plus, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplusage, excessiveness, exorbitance, immoderacy, immoderation, insobriety, intemperance, intemperateness, nimiety, downsize, furlough, lay off, trim, ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Excess

Words with the opposite meaning of Excess:

deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply, moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness, employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on, keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

Related Words for Excess

accessory, additional, supplemental, supplementary, de trop, dispensable, extraneous, gratuitous, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, plenteous, plentiful, abundance, bounty, plentitude, plenty, profusion, sufficiency, overproduction, overstock, extravagance

Near Antonyms of Excess

deficient, inadequate, insufficient, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, short, shortish, skimpy, sparse, dearth, lack, scarcity, want

Word Forms of Excess

Inflections: excessed, excessing, excesses

Origin & Etymology of Excess

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French exces, from Late Latin excessus, from Latin, departure, projection, from excedere to exceed

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Excess

Words & Phrases Containing Excess

in excess of, in excess, to excess

Frequently Asked Questions about Excess

What does "Excess" mean?

"Excess" means the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits, superfluity. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits, superfluity. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Excess"?

Other words for "Excess" include extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus and bellyful. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Excess" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Excess"?

There are 92 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Excess". Common alternatives include extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus, bellyful, fat and overabundance.

What is the opposite of "Excess"?

Antonyms of "Excess" include deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply, moderateness, moderation, temperance and temperateness. Near antonyms include deficient, inadequate, insufficient and meager.

How do you use "Excess" in a sentence?

Examples of "Excess" in a sentence: "any excess food from the party will be donated to a shelter for the homeless"; "a new television season with an excess of sitcoms featuring wisecracking teenagers"; "the wretched excess that is so often found in the world of show business".

Is "Excess" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Excess" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Excess" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Excess" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Excess"?

"Excess" is pronounced /ik-ˈses/ and divided into syllables as ex·cess.