1
as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
overpowered by fear of the unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overpower
This technique really allows the flavor of the green beans to shine without being overpowered, since they are cooked for only a few minutes and are shocked in ice water to preserve their freshness and bright green color.
—
Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Plus, the subtle camo pattern adds dimension without overpowering the look.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Many of the planets are bright enough to admire right in your own backyard, even with overpowering city lights.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
This was the ethos five days before Valentine's Day at Book Club Bar in lower Manhattan at an event created by Bored of Dating Apps, an organization eager to overpower online dating culture with in-person connection.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Plus, the subtle camo pattern adds dimension without overpowering the look.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Many of the planets are bright enough to admire right in your own backyard, even with overpowering city lights.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
This was the ethos five days before Valentine's Day at Book Club Bar in lower Manhattan at an event created by Bored of Dating Apps, an organization eager to overpower online dating culture with in-person connection.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpower
Verb
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Rooms are a bit subdued, in creams and whites, though a pop of color is provided here and there.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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Three bystanders managed to subdue the shooter, who then reached for a second handgun and died by suicide, police say.—
Mark Reynolds,
The Providence Journal,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Life will resume, and Iran doesn’t have the unlimited firepower that would overwhelm the Gulf.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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During test runs, workers at the salad chain were overwhelmed by the complicated prep.—
Bloomberg,
Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers dominated wire-to-wire for a 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena in their first game back following the NHL’s Olympic break.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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But the man who absolutely dominated the game from day 1 was still more than satisfied to prove people’s assumptions about him wrong.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In their recusal motion aimed at the prosecutor, the defense lawyers had to overcome a high bar to prevail.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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To reach the state meet, Riley Kongkaeow has had to overcome an injury that limited her to 22 matches.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the 12th and 13th centuries, archaeologists could confirm that nature conquered the settlement, pointing to its abandonment.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Mar. 2026
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There was something about the footprints disappearing in the powder dusting the sidewalks, the heaps of dirty snow that the kids tried to conquer like Everest, and dogs nearly my size scratching their backs on a tiny patch of ice that resonated with me.—
Leslie Hsu Oh,
Outside,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through the implementation of strong border policies, fentanyl trafficking across the southern border has been slashed in half, leading to fewer overdose deaths devastating American families.—
Gabe Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There is a real concern that what remains of the system may seek revenge for these events, targeting prisoners and political activists who are still outside prison, detaining them, and subjecting them to executions or severe punishments.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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In a nutshell, wastewater recycling works by first physically filtering the water, then subjecting it to reverse osmosis, and finally purifying it with ultraviolet light.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Newsom successfully defeated the most recent recall attempt in 2021.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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In a September 1, 1939, article, the Bombers claimed their second consecutive state championship on August 27, 1939, behind the pitching of Lillian Brown, who defeated the Manette girls’ team 11-3.—
Sarah Dewberry,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpower. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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