overbear

verb

over·​bear ˌō-vər-ˈber 

overbore ˌō-vər-ˈbȯr  ; overborne ˌō-vər-ˈbȯrn  also overborn ˌō-vər-ˈbȯrn  ; overbearing

transitive verb

1

: to bring down by superior weight or force : overwhelm

2

a

: to domineer over

b

: to surpass in importance or cogency : outweigh

Synonyms

• overcome
• defeat
• master
• worst
• take
• best
• beat
• conquer
• subdue
• get
• stop

Examples of overbear in a Sentence

that year the football team simply overbore opponent after opponent with steamroller ruthlessness

Recent Examples on the Web

Getty Images Jerry Jones continues to play the role of overbearing hard-liner with Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons. —Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

And Tess is now a podcast host and overbearing grandmother. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2025

Conflicts with overbearing in-laws are not uncommon, particularly during wedding planning. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

His father, Dave, was a salesman who never recovered from the Great Depression; the breadwinner was his mother, Rhoda, a fashion sketch artist whose overbearing nature left track marks on his psyche. —Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overbear

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

overbear

verb

over·​bear ˌō-vər-ˈba(ə)r 

-ˈbe(ə)r

overbore -ˈbō(ə)r 

-ˈbȯ(ə)r

; overborne -ˈbō(ə)rn 

-ˈbȯ(ə)rn

also overborn -ˈbȯ(ə)rn  ; overbearing

1

: to bring down by a stronger weight or force : overpower

2

: to exceed in importance or forcefulness : outweigh