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
The performance itself grows increasingly grating as the runtime drags on, particularly when Johnny’s scene partners overpower him by connecting deeper and doing less.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
These pathway lights brighten the way once the sun goes down without overpowering the rest of your setup.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Classic shades such as oxblood and rust provide an intensity that doesn’t overpower when used in head-to-toe looks, while statured reds add energy.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2026
Just 1 tablespoon of chia seeds can add a mild nutty flavor and crunch that blends well with other ingredients without overpowering the dish.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
These pathway lights brighten the way once the sun goes down without overpowering the rest of your setup.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Classic shades such as oxblood and rust provide an intensity that doesn’t overpower when used in head-to-toe looks, while statured reds add energy.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2026
Just 1 tablespoon of chia seeds can add a mild nutty flavor and crunch that blends well with other ingredients without overpowering the dish.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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Sentiment has remained subdued ever since.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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The atmosphere at the Palace game was strangely subdued, to begin with, lacking the edge or jeopardy that would usually be associated at this stage of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Aging in ex-bourbon oak barrels adds vanilla and caramel notes without overwhelming the spirit’s lighter structure.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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To allow your anger at the cosmic unluckiness of a friend’s far-too-early passing be overwhelmed by your gratitude at the cosmic luckiness of ever having met them at all.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Public safety dominated the exchange, with sharp disagreements over crime trends, law enforcement authority and the role sheriffs should play in statewide policy.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The Seahawks dominated the Patriots in a 29-13 victory in February that secured the franchise’s second NFL title.—
Rob Maaddi,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Detroit allowed Cleveland to sprint to a 22-0 run to start the second half that took the Cavaliers from a four-point halftime deficit to an 18-point lead the Pistons were never able to overcome.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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To overcome this, researchers at ETH Zurich used a subtler effect called the geometric phase, which exploits the path taken by atoms through an artificial ‘crystal of light’ built from intersecting laser beams.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Verb
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China seems to be the place to visit for world leaders over the past two weeks, and not simply for runners wanting to conquer the Great Wall Marathon over the weekend.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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But soon the 50-year-old character actor will be joining the DCU and plotting to conquer and collect the world as Brainiac, the villain of James Gunn’s Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The trouble was that the British economy was fragile—most mortgages in the UK at the time had variable rates, so raising interest rates would devastate British homeowners.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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Sarah Konwahahawi Herne was devastated.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Also, 2024 saw the largest data breaches in history, impacting billions of users and subjecting customers to the potential of having personal data exposed and ultimately exploited.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
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The incident subjected museum leadership to intense scrutiny over the security lapse, which independent investigations have framed as symptomatic of broader systemic infrastructure failures.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The left fielder had a big night against one of his former teams with a home run and four RBIs on Thursday as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals 6-2 in front of 14,913 at Rate Field.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
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The missile will reportedly have a host of capabilities intended to defeat ballistic missile defenses, but Russia has not built a good track record with the vehicle.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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