overhaste means excessive, often undue haste. It carries an Arena rating of 1552, earned across 11 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, overhaste ranks #375 of 13,220 for The Improbable, #2,567 of 13,220 for Most Sublime Words, #4,308 of 13,220 for Most Elegant Words, #6,401 of 13,220 for Most Malleable Words.
Why “overhaste” is a great word
Excessive, often undue haste, proceeding from the Middle English overhast, a compound of over- (prefix meaning 'excessively') + haste (noun meaning 'speed, urgency'). Unlike 'alacrity,' which implies a cheerful and prompt readiness, or 'deliberation,' which denotes careful, slow consideration, overhaste is speed poisoned by its own urgency. It is the fumbled key at the locked door, the signature scrawled before the terms are read, and the verdict spoken before the evidence is heard—a small tragedy of chronology where the minutes saved are paid for with the years that follow.
Etymology
From over- + haste.
noun
- Excessive, often undue haste.“The mischief arising from the overhaste of both the bodies in question in stamping with their approving mark most questionable dogmas, without full inquiry first had, is palpably shown in the position which Mr. Atherton thinks himself entitled to hold in consequence. Nothing ought to pass current with those societies but what has the genuine ring of sound science.”
Words closest in meaning
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