1959 J. R. Oppenheimer in Science 4 Dec. 1530/3 The discrepancy between General Groves' prediction of 10,000 tons and the actual value reflects some underestimate in our calculations of the yield, and a corresponding over-design.

1972 Lebende Sprachen 17 134/2 Greater reliability, without penalties caused by over~design, are expected to be achieved through use of a simulator.

1988 J. Purseglove Taming Flood iv. 86 The salaries and career prospects of in-house engineers are linked to performance aims, which can encourage over-design of schemes.

1947 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 18 145/2 It is his duty to incorporate the maximum amount of safety factor in his work; and when estimation is required, he always overdesigns.

1969 Word Study Apr. 4/2 Rocket boosters must contain..hundreds of redundant systems to preclude failure and to provide reliability; they are overdesigned, well beyond what is necessary for normal function.

1986 F. G. Rodgers & R. L. Shook IBM Way viii. 168 A product mustn't be overdesigned or underdesigned if it's to be serviced with minimal difficulties.

2002 San Francisco Chron. (Nexis) 3 Nov. b16 In racing, you don't want to overdesign anything..so the safety margins are very thin.