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
Remember that baking soda can't overpower every smell.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
The line score was nothing flashy, and not much really popped off the page, but the Dodgers don’t need Lauer to overpower the opposition.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson said the barrel program is carefully designed to support the whiskey through more than a decade of aging without overpowering the spirit.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Instead of overpowering the dish, the mustard gave it a savory flavor that balanced nicely with the creamy texture of the potatoes.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
The line score was nothing flashy, and not much really popped off the page, but the Dodgers don’t need Lauer to overpower the opposition.
—Katie Woo, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson said the barrel program is carefully designed to support the whiskey through more than a decade of aging without overpowering the spirit.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Instead of overpowering the dish, the mustard gave it a savory flavor that balanced nicely with the creamy texture of the potatoes.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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Reactions were otherwise subdued during the film—a life-like, but glossy depiction of the Iranian regime that struggled to keep audience attention.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
-
By 2015, both sisters had subdued their texture, rocking depleted waves in place.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Stunned by the image, Charlie is overwhelmed by memories and guilt, and begins clutching his chest in an apparent heart attack.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
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Employees were overwhelmed by long hours, unrealistic expectations and constant connectivity.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Mexico leads 1-0, and has dominated this match, controlling possession for 54% of the action so far.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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In this book Ginzburg follows the story of Menocchio, a miller from Friuli, a man of modest means and limited historical impact compared to the major players and large-scale events that typically dominate our explorations of the past.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The pair became friends, and Hasley went on to help write a book about Jenner’s philosophy on overcoming adversity in sports and life.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Macron and Merz had tried for months to salvage the project and overcome differences between Airbus and Dassault.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
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About intermittent success, too, followed by inevitable regression in the only game the United States takes seriously yet cannot seem to conquer the world in.—
Leander Schaerlaeckens
June 8,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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The decades-old smash, from perhaps the bestselling artist of all time, has never managed to conquer the list of the bestselling R&B-only tunes via platforms like iTunes.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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While several of these positions are vacant to avoid layoffs, representatives said the reductions would nevertheless devastate public safety efforts.—
Reeti Malhotra
June 11,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
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The screwworm could devastate the nation’s cattle industry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Capitol police officers have sued over the initiative in a Washington, DC federal court, saying the fund could further embolden people who have already subjected them to harassment and death threats.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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Such orders are intended to prevent an individual from subjecting another person to acts of violence, intimidation or harassment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The Sooners clinched their CWS appearance by defeating the Kansas Jayhawks twice in the Lawrence Super Regional.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
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On Thursday, spurred on by most of the 80,824 fans in attendance and forwards Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, Mexico managed to defeat South Africa 2-0 and securing its first opening match victory.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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