Definition

To clean something excessively or more than necessary.

Example

She tends to overclean her house, making it feel sterile.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I think I might have a tendency to overclean my apartment.

Really? I didn’t know that could be a problem.

Yeah, sometimes I get so obsessed with it that I lose track of time.

That sounds stressful! Maybe you should take a break from cleaning.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Overclean → It is formed from "over-" (meaning excessively) and "clean" (from Old English "clæne", meaning free from dirt or impurities). The word "overclean" means excessively clean or too clean.

Memory Tip

Think of being 'excessively' ('over-') 'free from dirt' ('clean') — that's why overclean means too clean.

Visually Confused Words