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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2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overrun
Jim Desmond, Oc Register, 15 July 2025
As officials bickered over who had the right to investigate, the crime scene was overrun by gawkers who pocketed souvenirs and tampered with crucial evidence — including an unknown man’s handkerchief, a pair of glasses and the gun used in the murder.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
The stage was overrun by perhaps more honorees than had ever taken the Press Club’s stage simultaneously before when a Special Award for Stellar Coverage of the 2020 Wildfires was accepted by news directors for all of L.A.’s local TV stations.
—William Earl, Variety, 23 June 2025
When Covid-19 decimated the 2020 thru-hiking season, the worry was that potentially sick hikers could overrun a town like Hot Springs, where resources are low and hospitals are an hour away.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overrun
Adjective
He’s had seven years to secure our border — and instead, it’s been overrun.
—Jim Desmond, Oc Register, 15 July 2025
As officials bickered over who had the right to investigate, the crime scene was overrun by gawkers who pocketed souvenirs and tampered with crucial evidence — including an unknown man’s handkerchief, a pair of glasses and the gun used in the murder.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
The stage was overrun by perhaps more honorees than had ever taken the Press Club’s stage simultaneously before when a Special Award for Stellar Coverage of the 2020 Wildfires was accepted by news directors for all of L.A.’s local TV stations.
—William Earl, Variety, 23 June 2025
When Covid-19 decimated the 2020 thru-hiking season, the worry was that potentially sick hikers could overrun a town like Hot Springs, where resources are low and hospitals are an hour away.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overrun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overrun
Verb
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The men’s national team has been invaded by foreigners.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
14 July 2025
-
Russia has suffered about a million casualties in its attempt to invade.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
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That number far exceeds any other program nationwide.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
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The asylum process in Mexico is supposed to take about three months, said Mejía from UNHCR, but the number of cases exceeds the capacity of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid to process them.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Mohammad Omar had been plagued with medical problems since birth.—
Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
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That’s the kind of problem that leads to the rodent Rose Parade that’s plagued other restaurants on this street.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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And speaking of aphids and overgrown plants, any plants with aphids already lingering around can be a big problem for a possible invasion.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
26 July 2025
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In the early 2000s, the Ramona Fire Department notified the then-tenant Touch From Above Ministries, which operated a thrift store there, that overgrown weeds on the property were considered a fire hazard and needed to be removed.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 July 2025
Verb
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In Oakland, a 35-year-old man was charged with possessing and manufacturing assault weapons, after police raided his home during an online fireworks investigation.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
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But the agency discovered the scheme and found undocumented workers at the company’s site when officials raided it in 2018.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Rocket posted second-quarter results that surpassed expectations on the top and bottom lines.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
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Arizona's Dragon Bravo Fire began from a lightning strike on July 4 and has surpassed more than 105,000 acres along the canyon's North Rim.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If your tree is heavily infested and showing signs of stress, work to reduce the stress on the tree by supplying extra water as needed and avoid pruning and any activities such as construction that might cause root damage.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
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The area is infested with mosquitoes and other insects.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Editor’s tip: The property is set steps from the first section of the Bosque de Chapultepec, a verdant green space host to cobbled walkways perfect for running and the Castilo de Chapultepec, a historic hilltop castle that’s now the National Museum of History.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
13 July 2025
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Finally, the third gallery room attempts to project a cooler, more verdant future with walls colored a serene green hue.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overrun. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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