domineer

verb dom·i·neer \ ˌdä-mə-ˈnir \

Definition of domineer

intransitive verb

:to exercise arbitrary or overbearing control

transitive verb

:to tyrannize over

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Recent Examples of domineer from the Web

Half the starters are gone, including emerging star safety Tony Jefferson (Ravens) and domineering defensive lineman Calais Campbell (Jaguars).

— andy benoit, SI.com, "Arizona Cardinals: 10 Things You Need to Know," 18 Aug. 2017
Where Nawaz Sharif, whose second term was cut short by a military coup in 1998, has always been feuding with the country’s domineering military establishment, Shehbaz Sharif is considered to have better relations with the generals.

— mehreen zahra-malik, New York Times, "Ousted Pakistan Leader Passes Baton to Brother, Shehbaz Sharif," 29 July 2017
The man is strong, domineering, and the lover of one of them.

— dinitia smith, Daily Intelligencer, "Straight Outta Queens," 30 June 2017
One such character, the domineering Martha Farnsworth, inspired her to seek out a new collaborator in Nicole Kidman.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Sofia Coppola on the Dream Project She Didn't See Coming," 21 June 2017
At 17, Adua flees Somalia – and her domineering father – chasing promises of film stardom.

— terry hong, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Adua' explores the relationship between colonizer and colonized," 16 June 2017
What: In this Alfred Hitchcock classic, a secretary (Leigh) who is on the run for embezzling, checks into the secluded Bates Motel, whose peculiar proprietor (Perkins) is manipulated by his domineering mother.

— bob carlton | bcarlton@al.com, AL.com, "Alabama Theatre's 2017 summer film series: 18 movies, including Christmas in July," 8 June 2017
Once again, Miss Cooper charitably intervenes — but will kindness prove enough to free the faux Major and the downtrodden Sybil from her domineering mother?

— f. kathleen foley, latimes.com, "1950s tales of loneliness and redemption told with conviction in 'Separate Tables'," 26 May 2017
Grace Hemingway is often seen as domineering and emasculating; Ernest claimed to hate her for her sanctimonious condemnation of his early fiction, and blamed her for his father’s suicide.

— elaine showalter, New York Times, "A Hemingway Tell-All Bares His Tall Tales," 25 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'domineer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of domineer

Dutch domineren, from French dominer, from Latin dominari

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