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
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
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
Aroldis Chapman has always been regarded as one of the most overpowering pitchers to ever set foot on a baseball diamond, but command hasn’t always been his calling card.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Country Red Another overpowering shade both Mazzarini and Spalding suggest avoiding is country red.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The avocado gives the smoothie a rich, creamy texture without overpowering the sweet, tropical flavor of the mango.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 2 Apr. 2026
The morning may start okay with a little hunger and lower mood, but by later in the day, cravings and emotions can be overpowering.
—Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
For as long as people have been overpowering one another, there has been resistance to power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
To prevent it from overpowering your garden, consider planting lemon balm in pots near your blueberries.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Using a stronger cheese like Roquefort in place of a milder option, such as Gorgonzola Dolce, may require reducing the amount to avoid overpowering the dish.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
While black liner has long been the go-to for bold, dramatic definition, brown offers a softer, more wearable look that enhances the eyes without overpowering them.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 30 Mar. 2026
The baggy shape juxtaposes the shoes’ sexy sharpness without completely overpowering an outfit.
—India Roby, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
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
Aroldis Chapman has always been regarded as one of the most overpowering pitchers to ever set foot on a baseball diamond, but command hasn’t always been his calling card.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Country Red Another overpowering shade both Mazzarini and Spalding suggest avoiding is country red.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cunningham is waiting for a colleague to arrive with a militia of his own before overpowering Jamie and taking over the Ridge.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The avocado gives the smoothie a rich, creamy texture without overpowering the sweet, tropical flavor of the mango.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 2 Apr. 2026
The morning may start okay with a little hunger and lower mood, but by later in the day, cravings and emotions can be overpowering.
—Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
For as long as people have been overpowering one another, there has been resistance to power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
To prevent it from overpowering your garden, consider planting lemon balm in pots near your blueberries.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Using a stronger cheese like Roquefort in place of a milder option, such as Gorgonzola Dolce, may require reducing the amount to avoid overpowering the dish.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
While black liner has long been the go-to for bold, dramatic definition, brown offers a softer, more wearable look that enhances the eyes without overpowering them.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 30 Mar. 2026
The baggy shape juxtaposes the shoes’ sexy sharpness without completely overpowering an outfit.
—India Roby, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowering
Noun
-
No double-digit lead is safe because anyone can go on a dominating run, as Michigan and UConn both did on Sunday.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
After spending last season dominating in South Korea and the three prior seasons in Japan, Ponce earned his way back to Major League Baseball this offseason with the defending American League champions, who gave him a $30 million contract over the next three years.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Our selection of irresistible snackable foods includes mini mac and cheese cups, sticky buns, jumbo popovers, and more.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
By the time Turner gave his paper in Chicago in 1893, the myth of the frontier already had an irresistible pull in American culture, a simple rhetorical trajectory that made white men and women feel proud of themselves and their past.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mario himself is played mostly straight by Pratt, subduing the exaggerated Italian accent from the games, while retaining the underdog aspect of a blue collar guy burdened with greater purpose.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
-
There, the pioneers—practical, inventive, restless, exuberant white men—clashed with Indigenous peoples, subduing them and a wilderness filled with wild animals and abundant natural resources.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bottled at 93 proof, the higher alcohol content helps amplify the complexity without overwhelming the balance.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Start by exploring a documentary, mapping a trip, or signing up for a course that stretches your thinking without overwhelming your schedule.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colorado’s regular-season conquest of the Western Conference will have to wait.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Public murals endorsed settler narratives of conquest, racial hierarchy, and resource exploitation.—
John P. Murphy,
ARTnews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After conquering the internet underground, perhaps Yeat believes that stadium status is all that’s left.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Instilling any notion of a more general intelligence in a machine will be a far more challenging problem than conquering even Go.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For this woman, devastating in her humanity and dignity throughout the four months of the extraordinary trial, who was propelled into becoming a global icon in the fight against the violence done to women, the time has now come to rebuild.—
TIME,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Our team found that a hospital cyberattack cut the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest without devastating brain damage by nearly 90% at nearby hospitals, not just the one that was attacked.—
Jeffrey Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since dark energy rose to domination, however, the opposite is true.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Us senior surfers need to stick together to hold off the hordes of nasty agro kidbots that are violently intent on world domination and the spread of nuclear surf rabies and mad Red Bull disease.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowering. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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