overall 1 of 2

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈȯl How to pronounce overall (audio)
Definition of overallnext
1
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole the overall view seems to be that we're doing fine economically

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in broad
relating to the main elements and not to specific details there's an overall similarity in the looks of the models for that chain of clothing stores

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people the overall mind-set among the people in our town seems to be that any increase in taxes is bad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overall

2 of 2

adverb

ˌō-vər-ˈȯl How to pronounce overall (audio)
1
as in collectively
with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time reduce the budget overall by 15 percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mostly
for the most part overall, this is a good speech, but it could use a little humor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overall
Adjective
However, doing so risks sacrificing some portion of local media rights revenue—last year, local media revenue contributed 10% of teams’ overall take. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Davis, a 5-star prospect ranked in the top 10 nationally overall as a player, had a season-high six receptions for 167 yards in a 60-0 victory over Allatoona last week. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Adverb
This year, fewer Atlanta restaurants were added to the guide overall, and the inspectors’ knives seemed a little sharper as five restaurants were cut from the list. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026 For the duration of that period, the interest rate your lender had quoted you will not change — even if mortgage rates overall go up. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overall
  1. general
  2. broad
  3. prevailing
  4. collectively
  5. mostly
  6. generic
  7. public
  8. generally
Adjective
  • His dip in the polling this month seems less attributable to any new policy position or statements than to just a general gloom among California residents about the state’s direction, Baldassare said.
    — Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That’s the case in Baltimore County as well — the administrative officer is paid a flat annual salary and does not receive general increases or cost-of-living adjustments.
    — Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • In a broad open field, horses munch standing hay as Katie Baltzor watches her black angus cattle on this fall day.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • That broader mission could give the Army another option for responding to different aerial targets.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of broad
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing
Adverb
  • The pillars include affordable clean energy, which coordinates suppliers to aggregate purchasing power and collectively procure high-standard renewable energy instruments.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For the nearly 400,000 in the state who collectively get coverage through the individual and small group markets on MNsure, Minnesota's marketplace through the Affordable Care Act, the increases range from nearly 10% to just over 20%.
    — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of collectively
Adverb
  • From SportsCenter star to CEO Eisen, 57, worked for ESPN from 1996 to 2003, mostly anchoring SportsCenter during the show’s cultural peak.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Throughout the 1980s, ‘90s and into the early 2000s, top schools played their exhibitions against elite amateur teams made up mostly of former college athletes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of mostly
Adjective
  • Brain games, crosswords and math puzzles are often promoted as ways to sharpen memory, but neurologists warn that generic exercises may not address the specific cause of mental fog.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In the longer term, the generic industry — which represents most prescriptions filled in the United States — will continue pushing for an overhaul of the patent system brand-name drugmakers use to maintain exclusivity over their products.
    — Megan R. Wilson, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of generic
Adjective
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In June, the district attorney’s office filed public nuisance lawsuits intended to shut down two motels, Super 7 Inn and Delux Inn, on South Freeway in Fort Worth that are beset by crime.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Adverb
  • Consumers have generally soured on an economy weighed down by more expensive gas, groceries, and clothing, among other items.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Storing heat between peaks Unlike solar and wind installations, conventional nuclear power plants are generally designed to produce electricity continuously.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of generally

Browse Nearby Words

overages
overall
overambitious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overall. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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