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
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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
-
This post contains spoilers for Good American Family Hulu’s Good American Family has an irresistible premise: What if the person who was supposed to bring your family together is actually the one who tears it apart?—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Your content should create an irresistible journey.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 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
-
These small-scale attacks may prove most damaging to the norm against territorial conquest.—
TANISHA M. FAZAL,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Mar. 2025
-
For the indigenous peoples of the Americas, these diseases were foreign invaders, spreading faster than European conquest itself.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While other teams have made more headlines — McLaren’s domination and its team orders, Hamilton’s rollercoaster start at Ferrari, and Red Bull’s second-driver turmoil — Mercedes has enjoyed its best start to a year since 2021.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Four-time national champion Aaron Brooks… faith, domination.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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But nothing compares to the infectious jubilation that occurs during the four-day celebration of Cup Match at the end of July and early August.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
9 Apr. 2025
-
For example, in 2023, there was an outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus that led to the death of thousands of cats.—
Jackie (Ott) Jaakola,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overpowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowering. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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