What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overplenteous
Example
The overplenteous amount of food at the party went to waste. [overplenteous: adjective]
Example
The company had an overplenteous supply of raw materials that they couldn't use. [overplenteous: adjective]
surplus
Example
The store had a surplus of winter coats on sale. [surplus: noun]
Example
The company sold their surplus inventory to another business. [surplus: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Surplus is more commonly used than overplenteous in everyday language. Surplus is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overplenteous is less common and more formal, making it less likely to be used in everyday conversation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overplenteous and surplus?
Overplenteous is a more formal word than surplus, and is typically used in academic or literary contexts. Surplus is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.