overcareful

[ oh-ver-kair-fuhl ]

adjective

1. excessively or unduly careful.

Other Words From

• over·careful·ly adverb
• over·careful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcareful¹

First recorded in 1585–95; over- + careful

Example Sentences

Prose often receives the label “poetic” when it is musical or flowery, or when it seems overcareful.

From The New Yorker

At the same time he wondered if, being overcareful, he would never finish his statements at all.

From Literature

Becoming overcareful of their diet, they reduce it below the normal limit for healthy activity.

From Project Gutenberg

Even then, this is an overcareful precaution rather than a necessity.

From Project Gutenberg

She was not really angry with this overcareful gentleman; she would only have been grieved had he proved the man to serve her well.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cautious
• circumspect
• reserved
• restrained