overlain

past participle of overlie
1
as in overlapped
to lie over parts of one another the puzzle pieces overlay one another in complete disarray on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overlain
Verb
  • Torrens’ production has overlapped with a particularly rough stretch from Francisco Alvarez, whose strikeout rate is over 40 percent since the deadline.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Advertisement Asian and African decolonization not only overlapped with the Cold War but was, in many important ways, made possible by it.
    Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In these pieces, which are coated in a palette of bright reds, dusky purples, black, and burl, their provenance becomes even murkier.
    Jill Singer, Curbed, 14 Sep. 2026
  • It’s coated with Kynar 500, a durable, commercial-grade paint coating that holds up outdoors against sun, rain, and temperature swings without chipping or fading.
    Lauren Murphy, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Politics is covered, check; psychology, check — often, as in this Cherry Orchard, leaving little to the imagination.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Thirty minutes later, after a physician examined him, he was pronounced dead and covered with a white sheet.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The opening credits of the film, featuring newsreel footage of military parades overlaid with glitchy effects and harsh techno music, appear to nod at some equating of the America of today with the authoritarian governments of the past.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The 45-acre recreational facility, which opened in 2004, boasts eight softball fields overlaid with seven soccer fields, batting cages and two playgrounds.
    Claire Wang, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Overlain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overlain. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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