to a fault

adverb

To an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively.

“I am trusting to a fault.”

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excessivelyoverlytoo
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Meanings

adverbto a fault (not comparable)
  1. idiomaticnot comparableTo an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively.

    I am trusting to a fault.

    5 more examples

    1710, Isaac Norris, Friendly Advice to the Inhabitants of Pensilvania, Andrew Bradford (Philadelphia), p. 2, He also had that good qualification, of a moderate expectation, almost to a fault.

    These mosquitoes […] are feeble, insignificant in size, diffident to a fault.

    1883, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter 34, in Life on the Mississippi, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, →OCLC

    Fitz-Roy's character was a singular one, with very many noble features: he was devoted to his duty, generous to a fault, bold, determined, and indomitably energetic.

    1887, Charles Darwin, chapter 3, in The Autobiography of Charles Darwin

    Madam, I'm as gentle as a jellyfish, and peaceful to a fault.

    1904, Rex Ellingwood Beach, “Pardners”, in Pardners

    Self-deprecating to a fault, he refuses any praise for his work.

    2001 February 13, Aparisim Ghosh, “Subcontinental Drift: Shining Star”, in Time

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbto a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

Similar
excessivelyoverlytoo
Also see
excessivelyoverlytoo

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish liiaksi asti
  • liiaksi astito an excessive degree; extremely
French à l'excès
  • à l'excèsto an excessive degree; extremely
Hungarian túlzottan, túlságosan
  • túlzottanto an excessive degree; extremely
  • túlságosanto an excessive degree; extremely
  • túlontúlto an excessive degree; extremely
Spanish hasta decir basta, al extremo
  • hasta decir bastato an excessive degree; extremely
  • al extremoto an excessive degree; extremely
  • a ultranzato an excessive degree; extremely
Cite this entry
APA

to a fault. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20a%20fault

MLA

“to a fault.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20a%20fault. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “to a fault,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/to%20a%20fault.

Source: to a fault on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.