undue

comparative more undue · superlative most undue

1. Excessive; going beyond that what is natural or sufficient.

   To individuals who despise killings in any form, death penalty is undue punishment.

   1 more example

   But even if they don’t announce themselves on the cover of the Times business section, groups of millionaires exercise undue influence on every aspect of American life every day.

   2016 January 17, “Wealthy cabals run America”, in Al Jazeera America, retrieved 18 Jan 2016

   Synonyms: immoderate, unrestrained, devilish, excessive, horrendous, de trop, extravagant, extreme

2. Which ought not to be done; illegal; unjustified.

   The death of Pansa was so fully believed to have been caused by undue means, that Glyco, his surgeon, was placed in custody, on a suspicion of having poisoned his wound.

   1909, C. Suetonius Tranquillus, translated by Alexander Thomson, edited by T. Forester, The Lives of the Twelve Cæsers, London: George Bell & Sons, page 77

3. Not owing or payable.