overkill

(ōvər kil′)

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

See overkill in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Destructive nuclear capacity exceeding the amount needed to destroy an enemy.
  2. Excessive killing.
  3. An excess of what is necessary or appropriate for a particular end: “government overkill in dealing with dissent” (Jesse Unruh).
transitive verb (ōˌvər-kĭlˈ) o·ver·killed, o·ver·kill·ing, o·ver·kills
To destroy (an enemy or enemy target) with more nuclear force than necessary.

Learn more about overkill

link/cite print suggestion box