1
as in thwarting
to get the better of through cleverness
a real estate developer who is always trying to overreach his competitors, fair means or foul
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in exceeding
to go beyond the limit of
the mountain climbers overreached their abilities and paid for it dearly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overreaching
Early Americans thus saw jury service not merely as a procedural safeguard against overreaching government authority, but as a way to distribute the power granted by the Constitution, ensuring that ordinary citizens played an important role.
—
Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
The rescission process under the Impoundment Control Act was created in response to an overreaching executive branch in the 1970s, and it should be used today to keep the spending power in Congress.
—The Editors, National Review, 10 Mar. 2025
Setting aside the fact that this order may deny care to adults, who are free to make their own health care decisions, this overreaching executive order substitutes the president’s misinformed view for that of every medical association in America.
—Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The actions have been sharply criticized by Democrats who say the unelected tech billionaire is overreaching and prompted several lawsuits.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
In response, the administration pushed back with claims that the court is overreaching.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
That's hard to do when a candidate doesn't even win a majority of the popular vote, but presidents often overread their electoral mandates and wind up overreaching.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
There’s a difference between overreaching and more dangerous behaviors.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
The rescission process under the Impoundment Control Act was created in response to an overreaching executive branch in the 1970s, and it should be used today to keep the spending power in Congress.
—The Editors, National Review, 10 Mar. 2025
Setting aside the fact that this order may deny care to adults, who are free to make their own health care decisions, this overreaching executive order substitutes the president’s misinformed view for that of every medical association in America.
—Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The actions have been sharply criticized by Democrats who say the unelected tech billionaire is overreaching and prompted several lawsuits.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
In response, the administration pushed back with claims that the court is overreaching.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
That's hard to do when a candidate doesn't even win a majority of the popular vote, but presidents often overread their electoral mandates and wind up overreaching.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
There’s a difference between overreaching and more dangerous behaviors.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overreaching
Verb
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But since relentless heat waves and environmental assault have killed 9 in 10 coral since the 1970s and keep thwarting more traditional ways to restore reefs, some scientists believe anything less would amount to surrender.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
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Defensively, the Mustangs didn’t allow a TD as Jacob Ruvalcaba had an interception deep in his team’s territory and returned it to the 10-yard line in the third quarter, thwarting the Cyclones’ best drive of the game.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With a range exceeding 250 kilometers (155 miles), the HQ-9C is the backbone of China’s strategic air defense.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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The costs of certifying a building as exceeding legal requirements for energy efficiency, for example, are seen as high points not excesses because efficiencies serve another agenda.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Looks can be deceiving, Cali said.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The lexicon of the wine world can be deceiving.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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World leaders and scientists hoped to avoid surpassing this threshold under the Paris Agreement.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile both warring parties have been accused of mass human rights abuses, with the death toll of the conflict likely surpassing 400,000.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Auburn opened the season by defeating visiting Baylor by two touchdowns, a good win to begin with and one that looks better after the Bears outlasted SMU.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz won his second US Open title, defeating Italian rival Jannik Sinner in four thrilling sets.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Relay is a smart, small-scale espionage film focused on operatives outmaneuvering one another.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He was reminded that his career had been shaped by overcoming doubts and slights going back to high school, when he was offered the same amount of Division I football scholarships that were offered to the average sportswriter who covers him.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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But by the end, in its rush, the movie still hasn’t quite come up with a point of view on whether McCartney really got over his bust-up with Lennon with a little help from his Wings friends, or whether forming a band was ultimately incidental to overcoming any lingering separation anxiety.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ben Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Knowles, Alex O’Connor—these are professional debaters capable of outwitting and outreasoning almost any audience member unfamiliar with traditional debate techniques, regardless of the topic or claim being considered.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overreaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overreaching. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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