overbearing

adjective

over·​bear·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ 

1

a

: tending to overwhelm : overpowering

They [teachers] say they're frequently harassed by overbearing parents, who call them all hours of the day and weekends …

—Jean Mackenzie

b

: decisively important : dominant

… didn't think it was the overbearing consideration here.

—J. S. Cooper

2

: harshly and haughtily arrogant

the mayor's overbearing manner of dealing with employees

overbearingly

ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of overbearing

• dominant
• main
• greatest
• predominant
• highest
• primary
• foremost
• big
• leading
• first
• supreme
• central
• principal

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

Perfect for the living room, kitchen, or entryway, the herbal candle’s scent is bright without being overbearing and comes in a neutral grey jar that looks sleek on display. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

And Tess, now a podcast host, is a bit of an overbearing grandmother. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

However, while Noah and Joanne encounter many naysayers about their love — particularly Noah's overbearing mother — that wasn't true for the real-life couple. —Maggie Kreienberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

The founders, responding to anti-Federalist anxieties about an overbearing central government, added this language to emphasize that the new government possessed only limited powers. —Andrea Katz, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for overbearing

• airing
• bearing
• blaring
• caring
• chairing
• charing
• daring
• erring
• fairing
• flaring
• glaring
• haring

Kids Definition

overbearing

adjective

over·​bear·​ing

-ˈba(ə)r-iŋ,

-ˈbe(ə)r-

: arrogant, domineering

overbearingly adverb