overcome 1 of 2

overcome

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overcome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When could conquer be used to replace overcome?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overcome?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When might overthrow be a better fit than overcome?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overcome?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overcome?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for overcome?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overcome
Verb
And there’s no reason to think his love of tariffs will be enough to overcome his rejection of all things climate related. Justin Worland/baku, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024 But implementing such sweeping changes would still require overcoming procedural and political hurdles. Julie Rovner, NPR, 21 Nov. 2024 Immigrant advocates have warned communities to take the threats seriously, while at the same time expressing skepticism that the new administration will overcome the hefty logistical, budgetary and legal limitations. Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024 To overcome this, build self-awareness and emotional intelligence internally first. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overcome 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcome
Verb
  • All of those measures were defeated, but forced the real estate industry to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in opposition.
    Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
  • In fact, Army hasn’t defeated Notre Dame since 1958 and hasn’t defeated a team ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll since upsetting No. 9 Penn State in 1963.
    Tim Casey, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • And many large-scale Russian attacks -- such as Sunday's, which targeted Ukraine's power grid -- feature a combination of drones, and cruise and ballistic missiles aimed to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
    Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Lorraine Longhi said her family has been overwhelmed with messages offering support.
    Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • For example, one of my clients used AI to analyze team dynamics and uncovered discrepancies in how mentorship opportunities were distributed.
    Izabela Lundberg, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
  • In July the company conducted an internal investigation and uncovered changes made to its menu creator system that rendered all of the menus unusable, the complaint said.
    John Towfighi, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Nature should be seen as less of an obstacle to be conquered, and more as a partner to be cherished and respected.
    Earl Foster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The incredible ability of Argentine ants to conquer all has earned it the unfortunate tag of being a pest, not just to humans but to fellow ants and other insects for disrupting local ecosystems.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Durbin-Marshall legislation attempts to force down credit card processing fees paid by retailers via government mandates that would devastate the credit card rewards programs many consumers utilize.
    John Berlau, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The continuation of the war, meanwhile, is devastating Ukraine.
    Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • But as anyone who has mastered a meringue roulade will tell you: Patience pays off.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
  • This is a critical gap that must be closed to provide the next generation of diverse leaders with the resources, education and technical access needed to master this evolving tech.
    Robert Smith, CEO of Vista Equity Partners, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • With such a passive approach from the federal government, Russian interference in the U.S. political system and American culture is an inevitability.
    Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
  • The fund operates as a passive investment vehicle, with its shares reflecting the performance of gold bullion prices.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Not all people of color face the same fears, like worrying about police violence or feeling unsafe at voting stations in predominantly white areas.
    Corein Carter, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Last month, another Waymo rider in San Francisco reported feeling unsafe when being catcalled while sitting inside the vehicle.
    Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near overcome

Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcome. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on overcome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!