overpopulate
verb
over·pop·u·late ˌō-vər-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 
overpopulated; overpopulating; overpopulates
transitive verb
: to populate too densely : furnish or provide with more than the environment or market will bear
intransitive verb
: to become overly populous
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web If left to overpopulate, elk and deer ravage the vegetation, and that can affect everything from erosion to river temperatures. 
Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Turns out its show-offy wordiness is much better suited to Cumberbatch’s very sophisticated air, though even his take on the many characters that overpopulate this short narrative lost me around the six-and-a-half-hour mark. Marshall Heyman, Vulture, 23 June 2021 The argument that the world is overpopulated—and that control of birth rates holds the key to reversing climate change—dates back to Malthus, and remains a stubborn presence in the climate change debate today. Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 18 May 2020 Director Lisa Portes overpopulates the stage with performers who are largely squandered on overindulgent choreography or, in a half-baked thread, scenes visualizing the online community tracking Olivia’s blog. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2020 The ruling came after a seven-day trial in which attorneys for migrants who sued back in 2015 claimed the facilities were overpopulated, overly cold and unsanitary, according to The Associated Press. Nick Givas, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2020 Shelters are usually overpopulated during this time of year. Segann March, Cincinnati.com, 25 Nov. 2019 Trump, however, the Never Trump conservatives who had previously dutifully advanced Republican talking points were overpopulating cable news shows and editorial pages. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 29 Oct. 2019 Springbok and kudu are overpopulated in parts of South Africa, so the government grants certain South African tribes a certain number of the animals to cull to help manage the population. Faran Krentcil, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2019 See More
Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Turns out its show-offy wordiness is much better suited to Cumberbatch’s very sophisticated air, though even his take on the many characters that overpopulate this short narrative lost me around the six-and-a-half-hour mark. Marshall Heyman, Vulture, 23 June 2021 The argument that the world is overpopulated—and that control of birth rates holds the key to reversing climate change—dates back to Malthus, and remains a stubborn presence in the climate change debate today. Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 18 May 2020 Director Lisa Portes overpopulates the stage with performers who are largely squandered on overindulgent choreography or, in a half-baked thread, scenes visualizing the online community tracking Olivia’s blog. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2020 The ruling came after a seven-day trial in which attorneys for migrants who sued back in 2015 claimed the facilities were overpopulated, overly cold and unsanitary, according to The Associated Press. Nick Givas, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2020 Shelters are usually overpopulated during this time of year. Segann March, Cincinnati.com, 25 Nov. 2019 Trump, however, the Never Trump conservatives who had previously dutifully advanced Republican talking points were overpopulating cable news shows and editorial pages. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 29 Oct. 2019 Springbok and kudu are overpopulated in parts of South Africa, so the government grants certain South African tribes a certain number of the animals to cull to help manage the population. Faran Krentcil, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1828, in the meaning defined at transitive sense