Overkill - Definition and Overview

For the thrash metal band, see Overkill (band).

Overkill is a slang term for the use of excessive force that seems to go farther than just achieving its goal. For example, trying to kill a bee with a gun would be overkill.

Overkill is especially used to refer to a destructive nuclear capacity exceeding the amount needed to destroy an enemy.

The term was probably coined in the 1940s and was in common use during cold war era, referring to the arms race between the USA and the USSR. Both nations possessed (and still possess) more than enough nuclear weapons to destroy one another - nuclear overkill.

The term is often used for spending a lot of time or money when much less would do just as well. For example, buying 7 mm thick, high quality audio cables to connect your computer to a pair of poor-quality PC speakers would be overkill.