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
The overall live audience for the Paris Paralympics grew by 40% compared to 2021 and 117% from 2016. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Make sure the towel doesn’t interfere with the seat’s grip, latches, or overall safety, DeMorrow says. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
Adverb
And actually our poll this morning shows that Democratic voters overall are looking for fighters, or people who are certainly promising to do so. — CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 Detmers got swings and misses with all four of his pitches – fastball, curveball, slider and changeup – and earned 18 swings and misses overall, his second-most this season. — Kyle Glaser, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 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
  • But it was decided this would not happen following a meeting between Mourinho, Real Madrid’s general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, head of scouting Juni Calafat and Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes at the Santo Mauro Hotel in central Madrid.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The group said the average consumer spend for parts at a dealer was $261, versus $275 at a general repair shop.
    — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Together, the setbacks also highlight a broader challenge for Taiwan, which is developing a layered defense system while drone technology evolves faster than traditional military procurement programmes can adapt.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The ruling follows a broader shift toward rethinking the purpose of cash bail, mirroring larger criminal justice reforms in the state over the past decade or more.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 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
  • Once a fixture of the American experience, the custom of collectively huddling around the cathode-ray hearth has largely been supplanted by the isolationist practices of the smartphone era.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Between 2015 and 2024, the seven stocks collectively earned an eye-popping 698%, nearly four times the return for the S&P 500 as a whole, according to The Motley Fool.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of collectively
Adverb
  • Mastering the clipping economy Some of Ossoff’s newfound fans know him mostly from clips — one or two-minute-long videos that travel wide and far on social media platforms.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But critics say the president has not met those expectations and has become unpopular among many of Nigeria's mostly young voters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of mostly
Adjective
  • Summary Leaders are increasingly sounding generic, often using similar buzzwords, a trend exacerbated by AI's ability to generate competent but unoriginal communication.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Classroom-style exchanges, with judges asking people to raise their hands in response to generic questions about their cases.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of generic
Adjective
  • In April, L3Harris subsidiary Aerojet Rocketdyne made a deal for a $1 billion government investment into the missile-propulsion business L3Harris plans to take public.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Other factors, including enormous public debt piles, are also contributing to elevated yields.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of public
Adverb
  • If the patient is dosed less than what’s on the label, drugmakers generally get less money.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Denver’s elite offensive line and generally healthy offensive environment only boost the breakout appeal.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of generally

Browse Nearby Words

overages
overall
overambitious
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Cite this Entry

“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overall. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of overall for Spanish Speakers

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