1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning
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2
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family
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Recent Examples of overcame
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly's snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.
—
CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly’s snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Falcons also overcame key injuries en route to the crown.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Greenlaw overcame a quadriceps injury to play for the Denver Broncos, who released him and allowed the 49ers to sign him back on a one-year deal.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Other Iowans overcame barriers to do their part in the war.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Florida overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and dug out of a 12-point hole after intermission on Sunday, but could not close out the Hawkeyes, who will face Nebraska on Thursday in Houston.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
The Aztecs overcame McNeese’s pressure defense with some long-range shots and were perfect from the foul line for a second straight game at USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion to defeat the Cowgirls 56-41 and land a spot in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament quarterfinals.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Freshman Jazzy Davidson scored 31 points and senior Kara Dunn added 22 as USC overcame adversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly’s snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
The Falcons also overcame key injuries en route to the crown.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Greenlaw overcame a quadriceps injury to play for the Denver Broncos, who released him and allowed the 49ers to sign him back on a one-year deal.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Other Iowans overcame barriers to do their part in the war.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Florida overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and dug out of a 12-point hole after intermission on Sunday, but could not close out the Hawkeyes, who will face Nebraska on Thursday in Houston.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
The Aztecs overcame McNeese’s pressure defense with some long-range shots and were perfect from the foul line for a second straight game at USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion to defeat the Cowgirls 56-41 and land a spot in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament quarterfinals.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Freshman Jazzy Davidson scored 31 points and senior Kara Dunn added 22 as USC overcame adversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcame
Verb
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The women carried their burden with grace and defeated Notre Dame.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
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Adam Sykora broke a scoreless tie early in the third period and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her husband said in a statement the family is overwhelmed by community support as the search intensifies.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, the Gophers — making their first NCAA tournament since 2018, and first Sweet 16 since 2005 — were overwhelmed by their Big Ten rival’s size and experience.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For example, 53% of CISD students mastered grade level in its 2024 STAAR scores, compared with 14% in Uplift Education, which was the lowest among the four charter schools presented on the chart.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
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This is more than the one-and-done era, which Calipari mastered; or the advent of the 3-point line, which Pitino owned before everyone else.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan on April 3, 1948, a American initiative to help nations devastated by World World II rebuild.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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Look, if this had happened in my third season playing this character, I’d be devastated.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Japanese conquered the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
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By the 1770s, Linnaeus had pretty much conquered Europe—all, that is, except for the King’s Garden in Paris, where Georges Buffon, the garden’s director, adamantly rejected his system as arbitrary and artificial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bondi took her marching orders and launched investigations of those the president named.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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Idaho State troopers, who handle law enforcement duties at the Capitol, took the nine protesters into custody.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Suns then tied the game at 94-94 after Jordan Goodwin beat the buzzer with a corner triple to end the period.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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Keller stymies defending champ Coppell Claire Garritson scored the game-winning goal in the second half and Keller hung on to beat defending state champion Coppell 2-1 in the Class 6A Division 1 Region 1 Final on Tuesday night at Keller High School.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Things became chippy in the second quarter when Denver backup center Zeke Nnaji, pressed into action due to the injuries, got into an altercation with De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II after Murray and LJ Cryer exchanged shoves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Arvidsson helped win the faceoff and got the puck back to McAvoy.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overcame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcame. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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