The phrase “overly engineered” implies that something has been designed or constructed with excessive complexity or elaboration. A synonym for “overly engineered” could be “excessively elaborate”. This term emphasizes that the design or construction is more complex than necessary. For example, an overly engineered machine might be described as excessively elaborate, with many intricate parts that may not be essential for its function.
Another synonym is “unnecessarily complex”. This phrase indicates that the complexity of the design or construction is not needed and may even be a hindrance. For instance, a software program that is unnecessarily complex may be difficult to use and maintain.
“overdesigned” is also a good synonym. It directly suggests that the design is more than what is required. For example, an overdesigned building might have features that are more for aesthetic purposes than practicality.
All of these synonyms for “overly engineered” highlight the idea that sometimes, simplicity can be more effective than excessive complexity. They can be used to describe situations where a design or construction has gone beyond what is reasonable or necessary.