Übernutzen

übernutzen is a German verb meaning to use something to excess or beyond its sustainable capacity. The standard noun form is Übernutzung, and the nominalized form of the verb is Übernutzen. The prefix über- signals excess, and nutzen means to use.

Usage appears in discussions of resource management, public health, and information technology. It describes the tendency to draw on a resource more quickly or more extensively than it can replenish or withstand without harm.

Common domains include natural resources (water, forests, fisheries), energy, and soil; medicine (overuse of antibiotics) leading to resistance; and digital infrastructure (overuse of bandwidth or processing power).

Consequences can include resource depletion, environmental damage, ecological imbalance, increased costs, and reduced reliability or safety. In medicine, overuse contributes to antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects.

Mitigation relies on sustainable practices, regulatory measures, economic incentives that reflect externalities, improved efficiency, maintenance, and public awareness. The concept is often discussed alongside sustainability, conservation, and responsible consumption.