overbearing

adjective

over·​bear·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ How to pronounce overbearing (audio)
1
a
: tending to overwhelm : overpowering
had to deal with his overbearing mother
b
: decisively important : dominant
didn't think it was the overbearing consideration hereJ. S. Cooper
2
: harshly and haughtily arrogant
the mayor's overbearing manner of dealing with employees
overbearingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for overbearing

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of overbearing in a Sentence

He had to deal with his overbearing mother. Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But for some people in Trump’s orbit, Musk’s presence has felt overbearing. David Ingram, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 If Europe better shares the burden of logistics, armor, intelligence, and infantry, the United States will have an easier time guaranteeing European peace and unity with its overbearing nuclear and naval might. Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024 Fair warning: for these same reasons, the crowds can be a bit overbearing. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024 This administration has also been hostile to artificial intelligence, with an overbearing executive order—by some accounts the longest in history—full of stifling regulations that only a handful of the largest companies could survive. Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overbearing 

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of overbearing was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near overbearing

Cite this Entry

“Overbearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overbearing. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

overbearing

adjective
over·​bear·​ing
-ˈba(ə)r-iŋ,
-ˈbe(ə)r-
overbearingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on overbearing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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