as in dominating
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in irresistible
Related Words
1
as in subduing
to bring under one's control by force of arms
the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
overpowered by fear of the unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overpowering
Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Chavarria was a cult designer at the time—an unsung name on the New York Fashion Week lineup that each season delivered a two-punch of a political statement and a singular sartorial proposition, both often related to his Chicano roots, even if at times the former overpowering the latter.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Peppermint and chocolate are a classic combo, but sometimes the mint flavor can taste too artificial or overpowering in baked goods when using an extract, which this recipe forgoes in favor of the peppermint candies.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Some people might find the scent overpowering.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 27 Apr. 2026
The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Once any chemical smells are gone, a lightly scented candle or diffuser adds a nice touch without being too overpowering.
—Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
The stench of death in Sinjar was so overpowering that Holland had to stop talking on camera.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
When the crew retracted the drill to replace its bit, an overpowering jet of oil fountained from the well.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Against Mexico, Skenes struck out seven across four overpowering innings.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Most tasters appreciated that this spread had a nice taste and was not too sweet or overpowering.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Laura Fenton, Midwest Living, 16 May 2026
The cheesecake was citrusy without being overpowering, and the espresso ganache filling inside the torta was a welcome surprise.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Dysbiosis happens when harmful bacteria start overpowering beneficial bacteria.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Players such as Phil Mickelson had been attempting the strategy for years, but DeChambeau proved that overpowering the test could lead to more trophies.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Three hyacinth bulbs in a pot adds fragrance without being overpowering.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
These pathway lights brighten the way once the sun goes down without overpowering the rest of your setup.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Just 1 tablespoon of chia seeds can add a mild nutty flavor and crunch that blends well with other ingredients without overpowering the dish.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026
The jasmine and rose scent is pleasant without being overpowering, according to our tester.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
In Michigan’s overpowering run in this tournament, Mara was everywhere.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Chavarria was a cult designer at the time—an unsung name on the New York Fashion Week lineup that each season delivered a two-punch of a political statement and a singular sartorial proposition, both often related to his Chicano roots, even if at times the former overpowering the latter.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 Jan. 2026
Peppermint and chocolate are a classic combo, but sometimes the mint flavor can taste too artificial or overpowering in baked goods when using an extract, which this recipe forgoes in favor of the peppermint candies.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025
Some people might find the scent overpowering.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
There was no overpowering onion, which drives me nuts in potato salad.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 27 Apr. 2026
The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Once any chemical smells are gone, a lightly scented candle or diffuser adds a nice touch without being too overpowering.
—Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
The stench of death in Sinjar was so overpowering that Holland had to stop talking on camera.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
When the crew retracted the drill to replace its bit, an overpowering jet of oil fountained from the well.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Against Mexico, Skenes struck out seven across four overpowering innings.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Most tasters appreciated that this spread had a nice taste and was not too sweet or overpowering.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The sunny West Elm sideboard and Ligne Roset chair enliven an otherwise neutral room without overpowering the space.
—Laura Fenton, Midwest Living, 16 May 2026
The cheesecake was citrusy without being overpowering, and the espresso ganache filling inside the torta was a welcome surprise.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Dysbiosis happens when harmful bacteria start overpowering beneficial bacteria.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Players such as Phil Mickelson had been attempting the strategy for years, but DeChambeau proved that overpowering the test could lead to more trophies.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Three hyacinth bulbs in a pot adds fragrance without being overpowering.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
These pathway lights brighten the way once the sun goes down without overpowering the rest of your setup.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Just 1 tablespoon of chia seeds can add a mild nutty flavor and crunch that blends well with other ingredients without overpowering the dish.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026
The jasmine and rose scent is pleasant without being overpowering, according to our tester.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowering
Noun
-
With such a dominating presence in the first three seasons of the PWHL, the Frost brass expects their roster to be raided.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
-
Local leaders say changes in water flow have also contributed to the crisis, with freshwater now dominating areas where saltwater once helped suppress or kill Hydrilla verticillata.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The needle drops, which include Lennon songs and Beatles songs, are impeccable and irresistible.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
What’s more, dill flowers are irresistible to parasitic wasps that will feed on squash vine borers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Officers then shot her with a Taser, subduing her enough to take her into custody, police said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Trump thought the Secret Service did an excellent job subduing the gunman but the White House is reviewing security for major events for the country's 250th anniversary.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film industry has a genuine chance to protect itself from the slop proliferation problem already overwhelming YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
Now under $100, these square-toe flats channel minimalist charm, featuring a leather upper and a dainty bow at the front for a subtle touch without overwhelming.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Note the mention of Hemingway here (talk about a white person going up against brown skinned people in his conquests and exploitations).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Depicting the Norman conquest of England 1100 years ago, the Bayeux tapestry is an astonishing 230 feet long and, according to the British Museum, features 58 scenes, each rendered in colored wool embroidery on flax.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
For a successful but not world-conquering rapper like Rashad, making a living relies on making sure that fans continue to feel connected to him.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Built by Blueprint Construction with structural engineering by Design Point, the East River Residence demonstrates that conquering challenging terrain sometimes means floating above it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Declining demand and cheap imports meant most mines had closed by the 1990s, devastating an economy built around them.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
-
Right now, communities are still waiting on disaster funding after devastating wildfires.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The 2026 Oscars marked the end of a nearly year-old chapter full of global domination for the film.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
There’s outperformance, and then there’s what Technology has done versus the rest of the market over the last six weeks — complete domination.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowering. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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