as in dominating
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in irresistible
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in subduing
to bring under one's control by force of arms
the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
overpowered by fear of the unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example 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 overpowering
Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Those are solid numbers, but not overpowering as the Timberwolves expect.
—Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
By that stage, the game had run away from Manchester United; or, more precisely, Newcastle’s midfield had taken it away from them by overpowering, outrunning and out-thinking them.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Pretending to be dead, Gi-hun and his friends launch a surprise attack, overpowering the guards and seizing their weapons, leaving only one guard alive.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
In such situations, Grantham said, the competitive pressures and financial incentives to join the crowd can be overpowering.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Unlike the overpowering Chiefs teams of Mahomes' past, these back-to-back defending Super Bowl champions are achieving wins by operating greater than the sum of its parts.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
This rating also covers the scent and whether or not the tester felt the scent (if any) was overpowering or pleasant.
—Jessie Quinn, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The eucalyptus-mint scent is strong enough to leave you smelling oh-so refreshed without being overpowering.
—Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
The Studio Pro offer aggressive bass and strong highs, which might feel overpowering at times.
—Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Those are solid numbers, but not overpowering as the Timberwolves expect.
—Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
By that stage, the game had run away from Manchester United; or, more precisely, Newcastle’s midfield had taken it away from them by overpowering, outrunning and out-thinking them.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Pretending to be dead, Gi-hun and his friends launch a surprise attack, overpowering the guards and seizing their weapons, leaving only one guard alive.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
In such situations, Grantham said, the competitive pressures and financial incentives to join the crowd can be overpowering.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Unlike the overpowering Chiefs teams of Mahomes' past, these back-to-back defending Super Bowl champions are achieving wins by operating greater than the sum of its parts.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
This rating also covers the scent and whether or not the tester felt the scent (if any) was overpowering or pleasant.
—Jessie Quinn, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
The eucalyptus-mint scent is strong enough to leave you smelling oh-so refreshed without being overpowering.
—Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowering
Adjective
-
For a versatile, refined manicure with a modern touch, here are seven irresistible ideas to wear natural, nude nails like an it girl.—
Dulce Moncada,
Glamour,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The track blends sensuality with confidence, capturing an irresistible chemistry that’s impossible to ignore.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Blending fiddle with a stomp-clap sing-along and a familiar hip-hop melody, the song etched a spot in music history this year by dominating charts and scoring near-countless streams.—
Matthew Leimkuehler,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
With new brands emerging daily, celebrity endorsements dominating the narrative, and marketing claims becoming increasingly hyperbolic, standing out as a true industry leader requires more than innovative packaging or a catchy tagline.—
Lara Devgan,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
White corn is particularly popular among craft distilleries, as the mild flavor of its whiskeys allows other mash bill components, such as rye or barley, and the influence of barrel aging to shine without overwhelming the palate.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Some popular online sites might be difficult to access or overwhelming for some age groups to navigate, but a physical card for a physical store could be a better fit.—
Felecia Wellington Radel,
USA TODAY,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
An initial assessment suggests the items were buried around the time of the Roman conquest of southern Britain, in the first century AD.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The conquest of love will not be abstract but vividly concrete for everyone, especially young people, and soon.—
Jaron Lanier,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That's why these guys have a decade of domination… all there guys are strong believers.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Others resisted Christianity, as, at best, an insufficient replacement for their traditional African religion and a tool of white domination.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Is there not a single executive somewhere at Netflix to greenlight a fresh retelling of the core Hanukkah story of pride, miracles, and determined guerilla warfare against a conquering despot?—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
-
Then English speakers began conquering Celtic, Native American, African, Australian and other peoples, pressuring or forcing them to give up their languages.—
Ross Perlin,
The Dial,
14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Chaos would not be a good way to combat infectious pathogens.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Accompanying her striking outerwear is an infectious smile and a warm, upbeat energy that stays throughout our conversation.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overpowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowering. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share