I. noun
1.
whatever exceeds a limit, measure, bound, or accustomed degree
the proper balance between sufficiency and excess
Synonyms: fat, overabundance, overflow, overkill, overmuch, overplus, plethora, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, surplusage
Related Word: overbalance, overspill; oversupply; profusion; superabundance
Idioms: enough and then some, enough and to spare, too much of a good thing
Contrasted words: insufficiency, lack, scarcity
Antonyms: deficiency; dearth
2.
the amount or degree by which a thing or number exceeds another
an excess of 10 bushels over what was needed
Synonyms: overage, overstock, oversupply, plus, surplus, surplusage
Related Word: overproduction; overmeasure
Antonyms: deficit, shortfall
3.
often excesses plural undue or immoderate personal indulgence especially in eating and drinking
excess at table is seldom healthful
his excesses led to his failure in business
Synonyms: immoderation, inordinateness, intemperance, overindulgence
Related Word: extravagance, overdoing; indulgence, self-indulgence; immoderacy, immoderateness; dissipation, prodigality, saturnalia
Contrasted words: moderation; sobriety, temperatenes; restraint, self-discipline, self-restraint
Antonyms: temperance
II. adjective
Synonyms: superfluous , de trop, extra, recrementitious, spare, superfluent, supernumerary, surplus
Related Word: redundant; unessential