Overzealous means being too enthusiastic or eager about something, to the point where it causes problems.

Picture a hall monitor who doesn't just remind students to walk in the hallways but follows them around with a whistle, writing up reports for the tiniest infractions. That monitor is overzealous: their dedication to the rules has crossed into annoying territory. Or imagine a soccer goalie so overzealous about protecting the goal that she keeps running halfway up the field to steal the ball, leaving her own goal undefended.

Being zealous is actually a good thing. It means you care deeply and work with passion. But the “over” part matters. An overzealous fan might scream so loudly at a game that they distract their own team. An overzealous student might raise their hand to answer every single question before anyone else gets a chance. An overzealous gardener might water plants so much that the roots start to rot.

The word often suggests that someone's heart is in the right place, but their judgment isn't. Their enthusiasm has overwhelmed their common sense. When someone calls you overzealous, they're usually saying, “I appreciate your energy, but dial it back a bit.”