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

Parents and bosses might be a tad righteous or overbearing. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

In the comedy, Dale, along with his friends Nick Hendricks (Bateman) and Kurt Buckman (Sudeikis), plot to murder their overbearing, abusive bosses, portrayed by Aniston, Kevin Spacey and Colin Farrell. —Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026

The Moon in your conversation zone is arguing with overbearing Jupiter in your privacy quadrant, so chatter and quiet needs may collide. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026

In the intervening nine years since 2003, Mars' Happy Valley community has flourished and grown into a burgeoning colony with thousands of residents trying to establish a cultural identity on the Red Planet without Earth's overbearing presence. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026

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