overcome 1 of 2

overcome

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overcome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When could conquer be used to replace overcome?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overcome?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When might overthrow be a better fit than overcome?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overcome?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overcome?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for overcome?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

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 overcome
Verb
With themes of resilience, victory, and joy as a healing balm, Joy in the Belly of a Riot is a beautiful manifestation of how poetry has the power to heal and help one overcome pain. Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Jaxson Dart and the offense may have problems that need ironing out, but another top prospect rookie must overcome a lack on the defensive side of the ball. Cameron Belcher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Held with five fellow hostages, Ohad described how the group was overcome with anxiety and exhaustion. Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overcome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcome
Verb
  • The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Summit was 4-1 overall and 3-0 in district play and had won four straight, defeating Mansfield, Burleson, Grapevine and The Colony heading into the game.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Walt Disney Imagineering updated the storyline of Black Widow Bride Constance Hatchway earlier this year by turning her from an axe murderer who beheads her wealthy husbands into a more mournful figure overwhelmed by the dread of lost love.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Over such spans, change overwhelms continuity; too much simply disappears.
    Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The victims were shot in an uncovered sallyport at the facility, officials said.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • This design also eliminates the need for an uncovered straw hole, making the bottle completely leak-free when the lid is locked.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For 30 years, the solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians was thought to be the Oslo Accords, the 1993 agreements meant to produce a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza, territory that Israel had conquered in 1967 and militarily occupied since.
    Karl Vick, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Good versus evil and darkness versus light, and good must conquer evil.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Public school advocates like William Phillis, a former official at the Ohio Department of Education, fear the change would devastate public schools.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
  • However, in places like Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, Superintendent Rob Coverdale says the fee could devastate hiring efforts.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Not all of us have the time to master electrical wiring or the budget to hire a Taskrabbit.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
  • My protagonist feels similarly sheepish about her inability to master another language.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The silent operational mode of each launcher – completely passive until launch – adds a stealth element that complicates enemy reconnaissance and targeting, reported Army Recognition.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
  • If a fund invests in only one team, it's allowed to be more directly involved than as a passive owner, as seen recently at Bay FC.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The North Carolina Department of Transportation said on X Sunday afternoon North Carolina Highway 12, the highway that serves the Outer Banks, is closed from the Marc Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe due to unsafe driving conditions brought on by ocean overwash.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Globally, for children 5 to 14, iron deficiency was the leading risk, followed by others related to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene and malnutrition.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcome. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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