overmedicate
verb
over·med·i·cate ˌō-vər-ˈme-də-ˌkāt 
overmedicated; overmedicating
: to administer too much medication to
Avoid overmedicating patients prior to surgery.
: to prescribe too much medication for
But some doctors are increasingly wary about overmedicating people with osteopenia.—
Harvard Health Letter
Harvard Health Letter
overmedicated adjective
But the question remains: Is America grossly overmedicated? —Andrea Bartz
Andrea Bartz
overmedication
noun
Many others are victims of a system that traffics in superfluous equipment, unnecessary and potentially harmful surgery, overmedication, and questionable procedures. —Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Examples of overmedicate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kennedy has said Americans are overmedicated. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026 This misinterpretation is quite common because doctors don’t want to overmedicate with powerful drugs. —Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025 If a cat is above or below the average weight range, it can be overmedicated or undermedicated. —Jennifer Manfrin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2023 The same has been reported at Torrance, where many say they’re overmedicated with unidentified pills. —María Inés Taracena, The New Republic, 12 Apr. 2023 Editor’s note: In this Future View, students discuss being overmedicated. —WSJ, 21 Feb. 2023
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.
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026 This misinterpretation is quite common because doctors don’t want to overmedicate with powerful drugs. —Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Sep. 2025 If a cat is above or below the average weight range, it can be overmedicated or undermedicated. —Jennifer Manfrin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2023 The same has been reported at Torrance, where many say they’re overmedicated with unidentified pills. —María Inés Taracena, The New Republic, 12 Apr. 2023 Editor’s note: In this Future View, students discuss being overmedicated. —WSJ, 21 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Overmedicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/overmedicate. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
overmedicate
verb
over·med·i·cate -ˈmed-i-ˌkāt
overmedicated; overmedicating
: to administer too much medication to : prescribe too much medication for
: to administer or prescribe too much medication
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