Agency Dictionary

Overdose

nounPronunciation: /ˈəʊ.və.dəʊs/

In Portuguese: Overdose

Science & Health

What does “Overdose” mean?

An excessive, dangerous dose of a medicinal, toxic, or stimulatory substance. In broader contexts, it refers to an overwhelming surfeit of sensory, emotional, or informative stimulation.

Etymology

An English compound formed from the prefix over- (above, beyond, in excess) and dose (a measured portion of medicine), from French dose, from Latin dosis, from Greek dosis (a giving, a measured portion), from didōnai (to give). The compound names any amount exceeding a safe level and has extended to any context of harmful excess.

Usage note

In clinical use, overdose names a toxic or fatal dose of a substance. In informal use it is extended to any excess of something that becomes overwhelming, from sugar to media content.

Synonyms

excess
surfeit

Word family

dose
dosage
underdose
overdosing

Usage examples

You start navigating through questions (dots) when you suddenly find yourself interested in caffeine overdose.

Concept

Information OverloadInformation overload is a cognitive condition occurring when the volume of incoming input exceeds an individual's mental processing capacity. It leads to decision…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Issue.6 - Time & Consumer Psychology In CrisisMarch 10, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Equationnoun: A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Astronautnoun: A person trained and equipped to travel and operate beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. In space exploration, astronauts perform scientific experiments and navigate spacecraft under extreme conditions.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
eppur si muoveother: An Italian phrase meaning and yet it moves. It is used to affirm that a fact remains true no matter who denies it.
Pollinationnoun: The transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower, enabling fertilization and seed production.
Regenerativeadjective: Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.
Anesthetizeverb: To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
Biomenoun: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat defined by climate and soil.
caffeinenoun: A naturally occurring central nervous system stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods.
cannabisnoun: A genus of flowering plants cultivated for industrial fiber, wellness oils, and medicinal applications.
catalystnoun: A substance or factor that accelerates a chemical reaction or stimulates widespread systemic change without being consumed.

Also from these editions: terms

Abyssnoun: A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
Anesthetizingadjective: Producing numbness, insensibility, or temporary relief from pain and critical awareness. In media studies, it describes content that pacifies audiences into mindless consumption.
Combustionnoun: The chemical process of burning, producing heat, light, and mechanical energy. In literary metaphors, it evokes furious velocity, explosive energy, and rapid expenditure of power.
Cultivationnoun: The act of preparing land, tending crops, or nurturing growth with patience and care. Figuratively, it describes the deliberate development of skills, habits, or relationships over time.
Fleetingadjective: Lasting for only a very short time; brief and transient. It characterizes momentary sensory impressions, temporary fashions, and unstable social commitments.
Livelihoodnoun: A means of securing the necessities of life through honest occupation, craft, or employment. It represents the material and vocational foundation supporting human dignity.
Maleficencenoun: The practice or tendency of doing harm, evil, or mischief to others. In ethics, it represents the violation of moral duty toward human well-being.
Malleableadjective: Easily influenced, pliable, or capable of being reshaped without breaking. In social theory, it describes institutions and human relationships that alter continuously.
Painkillernoun: A medicine or agent that reduces or relieves physical or emotional suffering. Metaphorically, it refers to products that resolve acute client emergencies rather than offering optional conveniences.
Suspicionnoun: A feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true, often accompanied by mistrust or caution. It acts as an instinctual defense against perceived deceit.
Inertianoun: The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force, or a state of sluggish inaction in organizations.