1
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over
the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overcoming
For me, Gregg’s incredible voice resonates not just in his music but in his humanity, in overcoming the murder of his father, the early death of his brother Duane, and his personal demons.
—
Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
The first step to overcoming a fear of abandonment can look like opening up to your partner about your concerns.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
UConn started 4-for-12 on layups and trailed for almost the entire first half, overcoming its first halftime deficit since the 2025 Sweet 16.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Canada also advanced to the semifinals, overcoming one-goal deficits twice to beat Czechia 4-3 in overtime.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Josef Köhler Pyrotechnics set a critical precedent by overcoming significant chemical engineering hurdles to provide the film industry with a non-toxic, low-flash alternative that preserved the use of practical bullet hits while meeting rigorous new European safety and environmental standards.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Jones said her journey to reach this point has been defined by overcoming adversity and a devotion to family.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Medical experts and public health leaders say overcoming hesitancy is key in preventing further spread in and around Charlotte, and preventing the rise of other infectious diseases.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
The events of Sunday night — dominance on defense, big-time blocks and timely runs — were not the culmination of a Seahawks team outperforming a Las Vegas win total projection, proving pundits wrong and overcoming any odds.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
The first step to overcoming a fear of abandonment can look like opening up to your partner about your concerns.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
UConn started 4-for-12 on layups and trailed for almost the entire first half, overcoming its first halftime deficit since the 2025 Sweet 16.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Canada also advanced to the semifinals, overcoming one-goal deficits twice to beat Czechia 4-3 in overtime.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Josef Köhler Pyrotechnics set a critical precedent by overcoming significant chemical engineering hurdles to provide the film industry with a non-toxic, low-flash alternative that preserved the use of practical bullet hits while meeting rigorous new European safety and environmental standards.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Jones said her journey to reach this point has been defined by overcoming adversity and a devotion to family.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Medical experts and public health leaders say overcoming hesitancy is key in preventing further spread in and around Charlotte, and preventing the rise of other infectious diseases.
—Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
The events of Sunday night — dominance on defense, big-time blocks and timely runs — were not the culmination of a Seahawks team outperforming a Las Vegas win total projection, proving pundits wrong and overcoming any odds.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcoming
Verb
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Tkachuk and the Americans won the country’s first Olympic gold in 46 years on Sunday, defeating Canada 2-1 on Jack Hughes’ overtime winner less than two minutes into overtime.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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Davidson was not personally nominated at the BAFTAs, but the actor who played him in I Swear, Robert Aramayo, staged a shocking upset when he was announced as the winner in the Best Actor category, defeating the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To keep your legumes from overwhelming your pepper plants, try building some cattle panel trellising or opt for bush-type beans and peas, which stay more compact.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
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Add some elite in-zone defense and Canada may have a more difficult time overwhelming Finland with its attack.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the death of his gangster father, a teen in 1960s Japan is adopted by a kabuki actor and dedicates himself to mastering the theatrical art.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
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In the rapidly evolving world of engineering technology, professionals devote enormous energy to such tasks as mastering the latest frameworks, optimizing architectures, and refining machine learning models.—
Angelique Parashis,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Los Angeles County district attorney is investigating whether Southern California Edison should be criminally prosecuted for its actions in last year’s devastating Eaton wildfire, which killed 19 people and left thousands of families homeless, the company said Wednesday.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Basically, look for a design that looks like as though was made for walking in the Mediterranean, but also for conquering the city streets.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
14 Feb. 2026
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Before 1946, conquering disease would have seemed as much a subject of science fiction as putting a man on the moon.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Their answers predicted a crushing rejection of the Roosevelt administration and the triumphant election of Republican Alf Landon and his running mate, Frank Knox.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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The animal crushing law has rarely been charged in this region, according to a review of federal cases filed in the Southern District of Florida.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As Torquay’s women’s team were beating Gloucester on Sunday, commenters left sarcastic replies under the club’s social media updates.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Bane ballin’ Bane capped off a seven-point first quarter by beating the buzzer with a step-back 3-pointer.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After sweeping España and taking an emotional victory over defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami in front of 75,000 fans at the Coliseum, LAFC visits Houston for a league match on Saturday having outscored the opposition 10-1.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
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So instead of taking the shot, Doncic passed the ball to James.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcoming. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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