domineering 1 of 2

Definition of domineeringnext

domineering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of domineer

Synonym Chooser

How is the word domineering distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of domineering are imperative, imperious, masterful, and peremptory. While all these words mean "tending to impose one's will on others," domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

When could imperative be used to replace domineering?

In some situations, the words imperative and domineering are roughly equivalent. However, imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

In what contexts can imperious take the place of domineering?

The meanings of imperious and domineering largely overlap; however, imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

When would masterful be a good substitute for domineering?

While the synonyms masterful and domineering are close in meaning, masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

When is it sensible to use peremptory instead of domineering?

The synonyms peremptory and domineering are sometimes interchangeable, but peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of domineering
Adjective
August is a violent, domineering, bullying boss who starves and beats the animals in his circus and doesn’t treat his human workers much better. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026 Among those acolytes is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a reedy, repressed young virgin who yearns to be part of the gay community but hasn’t the courage to come out to his domineering mother Christine (Elisabeth Wiener), who also just happens to be the country’s very right-wing health minister. Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 May 2026 Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 After being expelled from Brown University for sneaking a coed into his room, Turner came to Atlanta to work as an account executive for his domineering father’s billboard company, Turner Advertising. David Bauder, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for domineering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for domineering
Adjective
  • China is, of course, an authoritarian state which has been criticized for maintaining a mass-surveillance system, while Brazil regained democracy in 1985 after two decades of military dictatorship.
    Harry Booth, Time, 26 June 2026
  • Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt’s 2018 book, How Democracies Die, argues that the most decisive figures in the success or failure of an authoritarian attempt are the would-be authoritarian’s ideological allies.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Giannis is a rim warrior who likes to work in close, old-school, dominating the paint like Sherwin-Williams.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
  • Opening in over 300 locations, the Pixar feature delivered the biggest opening weekend in the history of the franchise for the territory, dominating the theatrical marketplace with 72% of all ticket sales across the three-day weekend.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • The passage is incoherent, yet, in conflating progressive reform with arrogant blind faith, it is perfectly suited to Vance’s cynical conservatism.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
  • To no one’s surprise, Bonnie is immediately transfixed by her Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee, whose arrogant smarm effectively threads the needle between Maya Hawke’s Anxiety and Regina George’s everything else).
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • According to Reuters, in the lead-up to SpaceX’s IPO Musk was dictating terms to Goldman Sachs and other banks.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026
  • But there is no rule or contractual deadline dictating this has to be done before the NBA Draft gets underway on Tuesday.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • While the shifter is tiny and driver-assistance systems can be overbearing, the S3 ultimately delivers a fun, polished, and fast luxury performance.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Across the short films, Early plays, among other roles, a smiling, fiendish mall pop act; the shy, offbeat child of an overbearing stage mom; and an extra in a makeup chair whose instruments, his face and his voice, are progressively hampered by prosthetics.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • Norway was itself a colonizer, and programs oppressing indigenous cultures and languages were in place well into the 1960s.
    Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
  • Having been raised not too far from similarly-minded environs, this Turkish critic knows that keeping a pure and noble familial slate in patriarchy often means oppressing women.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • The moon is charging up your bossy 10th house of career, reputation and visibility, putting your ambitions, accomplishments and leadership qualities under the spotlight.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • The Swallows were a pretty dull group of four siblings—Susan was always doing the cooking and discussing the best way to scramble egg, while bossy John was some kind of Tory MP in the making.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Adjective
  • Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
  • That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Domineering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/domineering. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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