overcome 1 of 2

overcome

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overcome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When could conquer be used to replace overcome?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overcome?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When might overthrow be a better fit than overcome?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overcome?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overcome?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for overcome?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

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 overcome
Adjective
My mom has overcome many challenges and has defied the odds in so many ways yet still keeps pushing. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Starting guard Courtney Williams overcame a slow start to finish with a team-high 17 points, and Natisha Hiedeman added 16 off the bench. Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 20 Aug. 2025 In this recent experiment, four crystals were grown successfully aboard the ISS, a first step toward overcoming this key material science issue. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025 The Padres are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League west. Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overcome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcome
Verb
  • The strength of record metric rewards teams for defeating quality opponents and minimizes the penalty for losing to good teams.
    Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Hamas is severely weakened but not defeated Hamas has suffered heavy losses through nearly two years of war.
    Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As the country's top disaster response agency, FEMA is charged with responding to disasters that overwhelm the capabilities of local and state governments.
    Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Earlier this month, Laureano talked about how being traded once and released multiple times has helped him not be overwhelmed by the circumstances of a new environment.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Reheat in an uncovered casserole dish in a 350-degree F oven for 15 minutes, until hot all the way through.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Cut the butter thin enough so that there are few areas of uncovered cake mix; this is what gives you that delightful crust.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The chocolate brown suede bag has already conquered fashion insiders around the world.
    Tatiana Ojea, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2025
  • When President Danielle Sutton gathers 20 of the world's most influential figures for the G20 summit, a group of terrorists seizes the event, determined to conquer global financial markets.
    James Mercadante, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • For a local New Orleans community, trends like this reflect two decades of regrowth after Hurricane Katrina devastated our city.
    Katy Reckdahl, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Families devastated as disturbing details emerge about shooter 2.
    , FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • By pausing to think, clarifying communication, double-checking details, listening actively, timing actions wisely, aligning intentions with behaviors and learning from missteps, executives can master the art of the small stuff.
    Jason Richmond, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Dakota Johnson has mastered the art of replacing heels with loafers.
    Michel Mejía, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This is because a dollar that Starbucks makes from selling coffee (its core business) is more likely to be repeatable and is likely to be protected from greater barriers to entry that management can influence than a dollar made from say return on passive financial instruments the firm might earn.
    Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • However, even when plugging into the headphone jack of a source device, the P100 SE's electronics need to be powered on to hear anything (in other words, there isn't a passive analog mode here).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Counterfeit and unsafe products that have reached U.S. consumers include bicycles, bike helmets and hoverboards, according to Wallach.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The company has also been in the crosshairs of U.S. regulators for years, along with myriad allegations from its employees over poor or unsafe working conditions.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcome. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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