overkill

Definition of Overkill in English :

1. overkill

the capability to obliterate a target with more weapons (especially nuclear weapons) than are required

2. overkill

any effort that seems to go farther than would be necessary to achieve its goal

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Overkill

noun

1.

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

noun

1.

the capacity of a nation's nuclear weapon stockpile to kill many times the total population of any given nation

2.

much more of something than is necessary, appropriate, etc.; esp., an excess of effort in attempting to achieve some end

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.