overpower

verb

over·​pow·​er ˌō-vər-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce overpower (audio)
overpowered; overpowering; overpowers

transitive verb

1
: to overcome by superior force : subdue
2
: to affect with overwhelming intensity
the stench overpowered us
3
: to provide with more power than is needed or desirable
a dangerously overpowered car
overpoweringly adverb

Examples of overpower in a Sentence

She was able to overpower her attacker. The police overpowered the man and handcuffed him. The troops were overpowered by the stronger enemy forces. His personality overpowers everyone else's. The delicate taste of the wine was overpowered by the spiciness of the food.
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.
This Superman feels powerful without being overpowered, strong-willed, and just capable enough to tackle the obstacles that Lex Luthor is constantly throwing at him. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 It’s bottled at cask strength of 109.3 proof, which is high but not overpowering. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 July 2025 By the halfway point, when the vampy, non-comic villainess Spider Lady (Carol Forman) takes over the narrative, the plot gets repetitive and the temptation to skip over the next few Saturday screenings becomes overpowering. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 11 July 2025 That’s enough of a penalty and skill gap that man coverage won’t be overpowered at the start. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for overpower

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overpower was in 1597

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpower. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

overpower

verb
over·​pow·​er ˌō-vər-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce overpower (audio)
1
: to overcome by greater force : defeat
2
: overwhelm sense 2
overpowered by hunger
overpoweringly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on overpower

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!