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
This was the ethos five days before Valentine's Day at Book Club Bar in lower Manhattan at an event created by Bored of Dating Apps, an organization eager to overpower online dating culture with in-person connection.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
The men, who set a fire and overpowered at least two guards, allegedly had the assistance of at least one guard in the Special Incarceration Unit, where inmates with discipline problems spend 23 hours a day in their cells.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Angie Djoko was a force on the inside with 27 points and 22 rebounds, backing a stellar defensive showing from Danvers to overpower Peabody, 52-28, in a Northeastern Conference tilt.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Those are all bold, salinic flavors that can easily overpower more delicate fish.
—Shindy Chen
february 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
The men, who set a fire and overpowered at least two guards, allegedly had the assistance of at least one guard in the Special Incarceration Unit, where inmates with discipline problems spend 23 hours a day in their cells.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Angie Djoko was a force on the inside with 27 points and 22 rebounds, backing a stellar defensive showing from Danvers to overpower Peabody, 52-28, in a Northeastern Conference tilt.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Those are all bold, salinic flavors that can easily overpower more delicate fish.
—Shindy Chen
february 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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Lighting throughout the camp is deliberately subdued, with warm-temperature luminaires and dim solar path lights that create minimal pollution and allow for maximum Milky Way views.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
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Likewise, the permacrisis in the economy, which endured despite Caracas’ introduction of a national crypto currency, the Petro, to bypass US sanctions, or the central bank’s removal of five zeros from the national currency, the Bolivar, to subdue hyperinflation.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Manganello was overwhelmed by her finish.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Even if courts ultimately rule refunds are required, importers betting on a cash infusion from tariff refunds should be aware there’s no set timeline and any rush for refunds could overwhelm the system and likely lead to long delays.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rather than allowing a single hero product to dominate, Safdie expanded the narrative across collections, pushing further into tailoring and Old Hollywood references.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
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The rooms Mojave Sands has just five rooms—two suites and three guest rooms—and each one of them feels deliberately out of step with the rustic aesthetic that dominates much of Joshua Tree.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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France’s Eric Perrot overcame a wobble on the final shoot and a late surge from Norway’s Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen to win a sensational first men’s relay gold medal for his country today.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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While most fungal attempts at infection fail, a small number do succeed thanks to the constant evolutionary pressure on pathogens to overcome host plant defenses.—
Lily Peck,
The Conversation,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Within just two million years of the Great Dying, these animals had already conquered diverse global niches — showing how quickly life rebounded and radiated following the planet’s most severe mass extinction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Few, if any, gave them a chance against the all-conquering Soviets, especially given the fact the American team had been humbled 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden just days before the Games started.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Tanimoto’s father, who grew up in Hiroshima — the Japanese city later devastated by the first atomic bomb — immigrated to Hawaii before raising his family in Northern California and had recently retired from farming.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In recent decades, Murdoch, now 94, has subjected his oldest adult children to withering takedowns and has also pitted them against one another.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
18 Feb. 2026
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The appeals court also found that testimony presented to the grand jury through the ISP investigator subjected Kilkelly to a prejudicial denial of due process, and that dismissal of the original charges by Judge Fix was proper.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sherman Oaks Notre Dame defeated Corona Centennial 59-56.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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That particular corner was filled with pink shirts and defeated faces, and Salloi stood in front of them, fingers in the corners of his mouth, drawing his smile wide like the Joker.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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