1
as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overwhelm
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 overpower
In September 1984, Braddy escaped from custody three times, overpowering a Miami-Dade corrections officer and four Broward sheriff’s deputies, according to the Miami Herald’s archives.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
The sauce is flavorful and complementary without being overpowering and goopy.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Still, that overpowering silence after Sunday night’s final kick also offered a reminder of a league that makes no promises.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice can add depth without overpowering the chocolate, while a very light pinch of chili introduces gentle heat and complexity.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
The sauce is flavorful and complementary without being overpowering and goopy.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Still, that overpowering silence after Sunday night’s final kick also offered a reminder of a league that makes no promises.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice can add depth without overpowering the chocolate, while a very light pinch of chili introduces gentle heat and complexity.
—Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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As police attempted to subdue Safar, another officer suffered facial injuries and a laceration to his torso.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
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But not before Freddy applies an earlier safety lesson about harmful chemical cleaning products to subdue the suddenly menacing unicorn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Visitors would stand in awe as their senses were overwhelmed by colorful images and animations displayed in coordinated displays over multiple, large, flat-screen TVs.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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But for families with young kids, there is one cost that overwhelms almost everything else — child care.—
Liam Stanton,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While some apps are experimental or low-effort, the approach mirrors the early days of iOS and Android app stores, where quirky and test apps dominated before the ecosystem matured.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
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The opposition dominates for spells but struggles to bypass his strong defence.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Global Compassion Coalition says that the first step to overcoming helplessness is to practice acceptance instead of resistance, which is a hard pill to take at the moment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
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One night after the Warriors snapped Minnesota's 103-game streak of scoring at least 100 points — the third-longest in NBA history — the Timberwolves overcame a cold start from the floor and 23 turnovers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Skinny Pedro had conquered for each man in the camp the sacred right to choose how to confront his own death.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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That, plus some Sunday morning news interviews and a shot at conquering Cuba, and all for the bargain basement price of one soul.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon National Park is preparing to reopen portions of the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the region last summer.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Through its Quds Force, the Guard backed regional groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, but recent Israeli strikes have devastated its network.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Between 1995 and 2015, both publications—which have a combined circulation of some eighty thousand Canadian family doctors and pharmacists—regularly ran columns from the Motherisk team without subjecting them to peer review.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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While the Jacksonian program helped produce a massive depression, the Jacksonians’ intention was to accelerate capitalism by democratizing it, not to tame it by subjecting it to government planning.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch also spoke before his squad defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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These therapies are not universally successful, of course, but can often save lives and defeat cancers where other methods are unsuccessful.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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