1
as in to invade
to enter for conquest or plunder
waves of barbarians overran the Roman Empire during its long decline
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overrun
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 May 2025
The bee balm might overrun the beans and tomatoes, and the sunflowers might shade out the cosmos, marigolds, and basil.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
In 1940, Germany overran much of western Europe in a matter of weeks by means of a blitzkrieg, bringing together armor and airpower.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
The landing maneuver was unsuccessful: the Airbus overran the runway and crashed into a TAM cargo building located directly across from the airport.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overrun
Verb
This included when the Ku Klux Klan overran 11 counties in South Carolina during the Reconstruction era in acts of domestic terrorism.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 May 2025
The bee balm might overrun the beans and tomatoes, and the sunflowers might shade out the cosmos, marigolds, and basil.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
In 1940, Germany overran much of western Europe in a matter of weeks by means of a blitzkrieg, bringing together armor and airpower.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
The landing maneuver was unsuccessful: the Airbus overran the runway and crashed into a TAM cargo building located directly across from the airport.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overrun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overrun
Verb
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The problem is not the bears, but the invasive species invading their spaces — i.e., humans.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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Imagine China deciding to invade Taiwan, calculating that sanctions will only be symbolic, short-lived, or broadly ineffective.—
Zoltan Istvan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Traditional taxis cost less than half that, but the journey can exceed 90 minutes in traffic.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Although the stock has since bounced back and exceeded its previous highs – achieving $130.18 in May 2025 – its past indicates susceptibility to macroeconomic challenges.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
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But travel remains plagued by inefficiencies with disconnected booking systems, delays without real-time resolution and reliance on legacy infrastructure and software that slow rather than facilitate the journey.—
Omry Litvak,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The past decade and a half have not been short on examples of all of these abuses, for which the intervention of the courts has been an essential check on an overgrown executive and administrative state.—
The Editors,
National Review,
19 May 2025
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In this case, those patterns would appear to stretch back to childhood, as Dillane plays Mike as an overgrown kid — one entombed by the insouciant aloofness of someone who’s never quite understood the connection between actions and their consequences.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Wildlife biologists in Florida documented a bobcat raiding a python nest back in 2021.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
19 May 2025
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Khartoum was founded as a slave market, in 1821, and Arabs continued to raid southern areas, including the Nuba Mountains, for human chattel long after the practice was outlawed, in 1924.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Students’ possession of drugs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools last school year surpassed even the 10-year high reached in 2022-23, according to state data released earlier this year.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
21 May 2025
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Related Articles The country surpassed its ambitious visitor target for 2030, seven years ahead of schedule, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global arts and culture destination.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
21 May 2025
Verb
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There was even a collaboration with Hello Kitty featuring Ito’s monstrous Tomie, a creature who resembles a pretty girl but can grow a copy of herself from her smallest part and infest her victims.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Plants infested with mealybugs usually become weakened and display wrinkled, shriveled leaves.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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There’s a volcanic hot disc, an icy cold disc, an aquatic disc, and a verdant blush disc.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
27 May 2025
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Officially launched on May 22nd, this partnership offers an opportunity to explore the verdant landscapes of Puerto Rico through a sonic lens, with six unique concepts available for listeners.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overrun. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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