an excessive amount of something, an illness caused by eating or drinking too much, to cause someone to have too much of something

surfeit of riches, surfeit of joy, surfeit of sorrow

Formal and Informal Expressions of surfeit

In different contexts, you can replace 'surfeit' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'overabundance, excess' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'too much, way too many' is a commonplace synonym.

surfeit: Explore its Definition & Usage

surfeit Definition

1an excessive amount of something
2an illness caused by eating or drinking too much
3to cause someone to have too much of something

Using surfeit: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "surfeit" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The surfeit of information on the internet can be overwhelming.
Example
He suffered from a surfeit of rich food and drink.
Example
The host's generosity caused us to surfeit ourselves on cake and sweets.

surfeit Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for surfeit

Antonyms for surfeit

Phrases with surfeit

surfeit of riches
an abundance of wealth or resources that can lead to negative consequences
Example
The company's surfeit of riches led to complacency and a lack of innovation.
surfeit of joy
an overwhelming amount of happiness or pleasure
Example
The birth of their child brought them a surfeit of joy.
surfeit of sorrow
an overwhelming amount of sadness or grief
Example
The loss of her husband brought her a surfeit of sorrow.

Origins of surfeit

from Old French 'surfaire', meaning 'to overdo'

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Summary: surfeit in Brief

The term 'surfeit' [ˈsɜːfɪt] refers to an excessive amount of something, such as information or food, which can lead to negative consequences. It can also refer to the illness caused by overeating or drinking. The verb form means to cause someone to have too much of something. Phrases like 'surfeit of riches' and 'surfeit of joy' describe an abundance of wealth or happiness, respectively.