overreliance

noun

over·​re·​li·​ance ˌō-vər-ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s How to pronounce overreliance (audio)
: the act or state of relying on something or someone too much : excessive reliance
One of my top priorities next year is to have an energy policy that begins to address all facets of our overreliance on fossil fuels.—Barack Obama
I shy away from prescribing sleeping pills … to avoid overreliance on them.—Andrew Weil

Examples of overreliance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Current data show that excessive screen time and overreliance on tools like AI hinder children's intellectual and emotional development. — Michael Chavira, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Recent research showed that overreliance on groundwater during the drought caused irreparable harm to the county’s aquifers. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Many of those names have been ridiculed for their overreliance on throwaway clichés. — Andrew Moshirnia, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026 More than four in 10 respondents said their biggest concern is that overreliance on AI could weaken critical thinking. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overreliance

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overreliance was in 1833

Rhymes for overreliance

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Browse Nearby Words

overregulation
overreliance
overreport
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Cite this Entry

“Overreliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overreliance. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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