1
as in dominated
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 overwhelmed
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 overpowered
Stewartville overpowered the Zephyrs at the net down the stretch in the first set to take the opening set with a 25-20 victory.
—
Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
There’s a mildly interesting thread of casting formerly maligned, misunderstood figures like Elizabeth Berkley and Jessica Simpson as clients, but any cultural commentary is overpowered by just how cruel the show is to their characters.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Bills defensive end Joey Bosa overpowered Chiefs left tackle Jaylon Moore and dropped quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard sack.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
Also, when listening to their music, there’s a sense of being overpowered by their immense talent and the brilliance of their songs and voice.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Ejiro Evero’s defense, which had really rebounded from a historically bad performance last season, was outschemed and overpowered, even with Allen having a relatively pedestrian game (12 of 19 for 163 yards and a touchdown).
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
The second one midway through the third period was worse, as Eetu Luostarinen overpowered him on his way to the net for the goal.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The pretty playmakers, particularly those deep in midfield, would be overpowered by athletic destroyers and box-to-box runners.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On Blanco's left hand is a simple gold wedding band that's overpowered by a massive, glimmering bracelet that complements Gomez's diamond hardware.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
There’s a mildly interesting thread of casting formerly maligned, misunderstood figures like Elizabeth Berkley and Jessica Simpson as clients, but any cultural commentary is overpowered by just how cruel the show is to their characters.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Bills defensive end Joey Bosa overpowered Chiefs left tackle Jaylon Moore and dropped quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard sack.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
Also, when listening to their music, there’s a sense of being overpowered by their immense talent and the brilliance of their songs and voice.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
Ejiro Evero’s defense, which had really rebounded from a historically bad performance last season, was outschemed and overpowered, even with Allen having a relatively pedestrian game (12 of 19 for 163 yards and a touchdown).
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2025
The second one midway through the third period was worse, as Eetu Luostarinen overpowered him on his way to the net for the goal.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The pretty playmakers, particularly those deep in midfield, would be overpowered by athletic destroyers and box-to-box runners.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
On Blanco's left hand is a simple gold wedding band that's overpowered by a massive, glimmering bracelet that complements Gomez's diamond hardware.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowered
Verb
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Trade discussions dominated those meetings, but there were signs of growing tensions over Beijing’s surging conventional and nuclear arsenal.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Last year’s ceremony saw Beyoncé make history with Album of the Year, while Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories, leaving with five trophies of his own.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Those bold trunks of synapses, instead of the sleek connections most people have, mean that Kaylie can be overwhelmed by the flood of input coming her way.—
Becky Quick,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
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Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has subdued the most contagious virus on earth.—
Jerome Adams,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Nazism’s total domination politically and socially found an aesthetic counterpart in the visual reduction of bodies to things, ecstatically subdued before the hypnotic power of a leader, force, or sublime beauty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Keldon Johnson had 27 points, Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists from Luka Doncic to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-91 on Wednesday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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In 2017, for instance, prosecutors in Contra Costa overcame an insanity defense by William Shultz, who murdered a 9-year-old Discovery Bay boy during a sleepover and blamed it on a delusion about an impending World War III.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The museum has never shied away from the more problematic areas of British art history, including art made in countries that Englands conquered or colonized.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2026
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Silicon Valley grew convinced that other difficult tasks would soon be conquered.—
Cal Newport,
New Yorker,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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After it was revealed that Vince didn't make it out of the inferno, his son Bode (Max Thieriot) and wife Sharon (Diane Farr) were devastated by the loss.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The war has devastated parts of Ukraine’s medical infrastructure.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Francis, for his part, subjected the Church’s right wing to closer scrutiny by the Vatican.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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The 2025 evaluation subjected electric vehicles to some of the harshest real-world conditions in the global auto industry.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
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In nonplayoff action, Ben Chen rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns as Westford Academy defeated Newton South, 33-13.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overpowered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowered. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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