Too much can be too much of a thing (a surfeit of candy), too much in a price (exorbitant), too much for the job (superfluous), or too much in amount (excessive, inordinate). Some of these words also carry the idea of not needed or not belonging.
Key idea
Too much in amount: excessive, inordinate, a surfeit, to inundate. Extra, left over: a surplus. Not needed: superfluous, redundant (repeated), gratuitous (uncalled for). Not belonging: extraneous. Too high a price: exorbitant.
Look for “over” and “out” inside them: super/sur (over) in superfluous, surplus and surfeit; ex and extra (out, outside) in excessive, exorbitant and extraneous; and the Latin unda (wave) in both inundate and redundant.
The ten words
Common mistake
gratuitous means unnecessary as well as free of charge. redundant also means repeating: "free gift" is redundant.
| word | too much how? | example |
|---|---|---|
| excessive, inordinate | more than reasonable | an excessive fine |
| surplus | left over (often useful) | surplus bread for the shelter |
| surfeit | far too much | a surfeit of candy |
| superfluous, redundant | not needed (redundant: repeated) | “free gift” |
| extraneous | does not belong | pizza on a poster about bees |
| exorbitant | a price far too high | a five-hundred-dollar cupcake |
| gratuitous | uncalled for, without reason | a gratuitous insult |
| inundate | to flood with too much | inundated with orders |
gratuitous means uncalled for, but it can also mean free of charge (the same root as gratis and gratuity, a tip). redundant means unneeded because repeated: “free gift,” “past history” and “unexpected surprise” are all redundant.