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

Robin tries to keep quiet. He cannot overbear her …

—A. S. Byatt

b

: to surpass in importance or cogency : outweigh

Synonyms of overbear

• 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

Saddled with much of the dramatic heavy lifting, the score is overbearing partly out of necessity. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026

The service The service is fantastic but never overbearing. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Nonetheless, the charmless and overbearing Donovan wins over the ballet company’s board, with only dance instructor Olivia (Celestine Rae) and Harris voting against it. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025

Even independent dramatic features made without overbearing producers are often directed no more originally than ones made for TV. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 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