Overgenerous

Overgenerous describes someone who gives or spends more than is appropriate or necessary. It often implies a lack of restraint in giving, a tendency to be lavish or excessive in their generosity, potentially leading to impractical or even harmful consequences for the giver or receiver. This behavior can stem from a variety of motivations, including a desire to impress, to compensate for feelings of guilt or insecurity, or simply a genuine, albeit unrestrained, kind heart. It's frequently associated with financial dealings, but can extend to offers of time, advice, or forgiveness. The excessive nature of the generosity distinguishes it from simple kindness or charity, highlighting an imbalance and potential for negative outcomes like financial strain, enabling dependency, or the fostering of unrealistic expectations.

Overgenerous meaning with examples

• The wealthy benefactor, known for his overgenerous donations, funded the entire university library, but his focus on quantity over strategic planning led to a poorly curated collection and underutilized resources. The project failed to meet its actual end goal, and ultimately wasted a significant amount of money.
• Sarah, feeling guilty about missing her friend's birthday, was overgenerous with her apologies and gift, showering her with expensive presents that felt awkward to receive and creating an unnecessary burden on their friendship and their friend's response.
• The shopkeeper, desperate to make a sale, became overgenerous with his discounts, undercutting his own profits and devaluing his products. He was running his business at a huge loss because he just couldn't say no to a sale, and would later regret these choices.
• Despite her limited budget, Maria was overgenerous with her time, always offering to help neighbors with their errands and childcare. This willingness to go the extra mile quickly led to burnout because she had little time for herself, or her family.
• John, known for his overgenerous promises, offered to pay for his son's entire college education, but when unexpected financial problems arose, he couldn't fulfill his pledge, leaving his son in a difficult situation.