overkill
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o·ver·kill
(ō′vər-kĭl′)n.
1. The destructive use of military force beyond the amount needed to destroy an enemy.
2. The excessive use of force in killing an individual or organism.
3. Elimination or drastic reduction of an animal population by hunting or killing.
4. An excess of what is necessary or appropriate for a particular end: "government overkill in dealing with dissent" (Jesse Unruh).
v. (ō′vər-kĭl′) o·ver·killed, o·ver·kill·ing, o·ver·kills
v.tr.
1. To destroy (an enemy or enemy target) with more force than necessary.
2. To use excessive force in killing (an individual, for example).
3. To kill too many of (a population of animals) for the population to maintain itself in substantial numbers.
4. To apply an excess of what is necessary or appropriate for (a particular end): overkill an advertising campaign.
v.intr.
To engage in overkill.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
overkill
(ˈəʊvəˌkɪl)n
1. (Military) the capability to deploy more weapons, esp nuclear weapons, than is necessary to ensure military advantage
2. any capacity or treatment that is greater than that required or appropriate
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
o•ver•kill
(ˈoʊ vərˌkɪl)n.
1. the capacity to destroy by nuclear weapons more of an enemy than would be necessary for a victory.
2. an instance of such destruction.
3. an excess of what is suitable.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  overkill - the capability to obliterate a target with more weapons (especially nuclear weapons) than are requiredcapability, capableness - the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally; "he worked to the limits of his capability" |
| 2. | overkill - any effort that seems to go farther than would be necessary to achieve its goal elbow grease, exertion, effort, travail, sweat - use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
overkill
[ˈəʊvərkɪl] nto be overkill (= excessive) → être exagéré
Such security measures may be overkill → De telles mesures de sécurité sont peut-être exagérées.
It would be overkill → Ce serait exagéré.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
overkill
[ˈəʊvəˌkɪl] n (Mil) → potenziale m (nucleare) superiore al necessario (fig) → esagerazione fCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995