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 pretty playmakers, particularly those deep in midfield, would be overpowered by athletic destroyers and box-to-box runners.
—
Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Unlike other mass-market body sprays marketed to teenage boys, this one isn’t abrasive or musk-heavy; it can be misted on enthusiastically in a locker room or before school without overpowering.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
To my non-videophile eyes, the differences between the two screens were noticeable but not overpowering.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Everyone could learn from the experience of being taken down and trying to escape, those moments when your freedom depends on your ability to overpower someone else.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Unlike other mass-market body sprays marketed to teenage boys, this one isn’t abrasive or musk-heavy; it can be misted on enthusiastically in a locker room or before school without overpowering.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025
To my non-videophile eyes, the differences between the two screens were noticeable but not overpowering.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Everyone could learn from the experience of being taken down and trying to escape, those moments when your freedom depends on your ability to overpower someone else.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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Likewise, evil will not be defeated by the emergence of an individual Chosen One, a lone hero possessed of a wand powerful enough to subdue his enemy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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To be sure, the declines in major banks were relatively subdued Thursday.—
Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There's also the Manhattan Beach Pier that has a small aquarium and adds a unique centerpiece without overwhelming the coastline.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
20 Oct. 2025
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In his segment, Frankenstein’s monster (Bruno Corazzari) roams a room of red Rothko-esque paintings and is overwhelmed by music.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Narrowing searches to those with experience running a company or a major business unit means they are confined to a much smaller pool of executives with decades of experience and, because of historic hiring patterns, that talent pool is dominated by White men, Williams said.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Although a senior member of Fatah—the secular nationalist party that dominates the Palestinian Authority—Barghouti has maintained good relations with Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How Tielemans overcame early toils is often used as a source of encouragement by new additions who seem peripheral at first.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Her mission is to be an example of overcoming adversity, reminding the world that true success comes from working with love, respect, and shining without dimming the light of others.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And when was conquering ever a good thing?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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Both were outsiders who left their homeland to conquer the world.—
NPR,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then, heat waves in 2024 devastated some northern colonies that had demonstrated more resilience.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
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This happened when Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lucido's office said Martin also has a habitual offender, fourth-offense notice, subjecting him to life in prison if he is convicted of any of the primary felony charges, according to a release.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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The move would subject SpaceX to competition from space technology rivals like Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Glo clearly brought good luck to the game, seeing as the Raptors defeated the Hawks 138-118.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
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In these sparsely populated spaces, the mountain always defeats the human, instilling a deep respect for the environment.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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