overbearing

1 of 2

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

overbearing

2 of 2

present participle of overbear

Synonyms of overbearing

Adjective

• 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

Adjective

He had to deal with his overbearing mother.

Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Service is immaculate in that distinctly Japanese way—anticipatory, respectful, never overbearing—and there’s an elegance to the hospitality here that feels deeply ingrained rather than trained. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026

The boisterous bass makes the near-constant kick drum a bit overbearing at times. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

Mido, the jerk who blocks your progress in Kokiri Forest, has been subtly rewritten from bully to overbearing but well-intentioned boss. — James Perkins Mastromarino, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Amy Adams is mesmerizing as our troubled heroine, with Patricia Clarkson as her overbearing mother and Eliza Scanlen as her mysterious half-sister. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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