1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism
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2
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
overweening desire for wealth and fame
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3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
an overweening administrator who simply doesn't know how to manage people
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4
as in inflated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds
an overweening national pride that prompted its citizens to denigrate other countries
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of overweening
The Court also brushed back an overweening Environmental Protection Agency rule, in Ohio v. EPA, that ran roughshod over a congressional design to share responsibility for air quality between the EPA and the states.
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The Editors, National Review, 28 June 2024
There are more talented players than ever, and this fact could blunt, just slightly, the power of the overweening stars.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
For those who truly want to reshape Washington’s overweening and militarized foreign policy, the best approach is not to engage in name-calling but to work to replace the existing foreign policy consensus and its disciples with something better.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
Out of an overweening sense of modesty, perhaps, this won’t really come across to the uninitiated.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overweening 
The Editors, National Review, 28 June 2024
There are more talented players than ever, and this fact could blunt, just slightly, the power of the overweening stars.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
For those who truly want to reshape Washington’s overweening and militarized foreign policy, the best approach is not to engage in name-calling but to work to replace the existing foreign policy consensus and its disciples with something better.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
Out of an overweening sense of modesty, perhaps, this won’t really come across to the uninitiated.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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Yet the people posting vitriolic comments about Thompson feel justified in being smug about the death of this human in particular.Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
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If Dani hadn’t shown up looking dreadfully smug, Helen could have gotten on with her morning and done her bit to prevent a war.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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However, being unable to control excessive behaviors can cause people to stretch beyond their means and compromise their well-being and personal sustainability.Sandro da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Even excessive salt consumption on a single occasion can cause fragmented sleep patterns in some people.25 Long-Term Complications The main concern about eating too much salt is its impact on your blood pressure and heart.James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
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The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth.Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Unless the Top-Tier VC funds can create more unicorns or sell more of their mediocre ventures as strategic sales to corporations at inflated prices, their strategy may be at risk of failing.Dileep Rao, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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An inflated sense of humans’ capacity to control AI can, in fact, exacerbate the very risks that critics fear.Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As of this week, there’s even a new Glossier product on the block sure to make Emily Weiss proud, a chubby eye shadow stick that’s excellent for accentuating even the most natural of makeup looks.Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
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Funny Christmas jokes for kids, knock-knocks, memes to make dad proud How to prepare for winter 2024 — from freezing pipes to driving in snow and ice Who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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There’s no getting around that this is an extreme version of an already extreme watch, so this is not for the faint of heart.Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2024
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In more extreme cases, Dr. Romanoff warns that codependency can manifest in controlling behaviors.Jenna Ryu, SELF, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And then, Jamie suddenly returned in the episode’s final moments, proving that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 12 Dec. 2024
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Cats use exaggerated movements to show emotions, rather than painting them on their faces.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The film, which centers on a group of egotistical actors making a Vietnam War movie, grossed nearly $200 million worldwide and picked up an Oscar nomination for supporting actor thanks to Robert Downey Jr.Zack Sharf, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
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And with Elon Musk playing a key role in this new administration, who knows in which direction his bombastic, egotistical whims may take AI development?Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near overweening
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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