as in dominating
the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control
the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in irresistible
Related Words
1
as in subduing
to bring under one's control by force of arms
the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
overpowered by fear of the unknown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of overpowering
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Chavarria was a cult designer at the time—an unsung name on the New York Fashion Week lineup that each season delivered a two-punch of a political statement and a singular sartorial proposition, both often related to his Chicano roots, even if at times the former overpowering the latter.
—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
23 Jan. 2026
Peppermint and chocolate are a classic combo, but sometimes the mint flavor can taste too artificial or overpowering in baked goods when using an extract, which this recipe forgoes in favor of the peppermint candies.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
26 Nov. 2025
Some people might find the scent overpowering.
—
Lisa Desantis,
Glamour,
18 Nov. 2025
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Baby wipes or non-scented lotion will also fix an overpowering scent.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
The overpowering moral authority of wronged women, #MeToo’s skeptics alleged, would allow cynical wrongdoers to weaponize claims of victimhood for their own gain.
—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
No pitcher has been as overpowering as Garcia was under the lights.
—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
There was no overpowering onion, which drives me nuts in potato salad.
—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Apr. 2026
The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Once any chemical smells are gone, a lightly scented candle or diffuser adds a nice touch without being too overpowering.
—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
The stench of death in Sinjar was so overpowering that Holland had to stop talking on camera.
—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2026
Cam Schlittler struck out 13 in six overpowering innings for his first double-digit strikeout game in the regular season, and the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Friday night.
—
CBS News,
19 June 2026
The Prisoner’s Share was first released in 2022, and shows how an artful red wine finish can be achieved without overpowering the whiskey with fruit and tannic notes.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
While Sale is a hard thrower and Kershaw also had outstanding velocity early in his career, Wainwright and Greinke succeeded without overpowering fastballs.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The natural texture adds a relaxed, warm-weather vibe that pairs especially well with lightweight outfits like linen sets and sundresses without overpowering them.
—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
The games were neither displays of baseball elegance nor overpowering runaways.
—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Slaten began in top form, overpowering Goldschmidt and likely American League MVP contender Ben Rice, but Bellinger retook the lead for New York with a home run to right-center.
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
The dressing, based on nuoc cham, a traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce, has just enough fish sauce to give it depth and pungency without overpowering the brightness of the lime.
—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Noun
In Michigan’s overpowering run in this tournament, Mara was everywhere.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Chavarria was a cult designer at the time—an unsung name on the New York Fashion Week lineup that each season delivered a two-punch of a political statement and a singular sartorial proposition, both often related to his Chicano roots, even if at times the former overpowering the latter.
—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
23 Jan. 2026
Peppermint and chocolate are a classic combo, but sometimes the mint flavor can taste too artificial or overpowering in baked goods when using an extract, which this recipe forgoes in favor of the peppermint candies.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
26 Nov. 2025
Some people might find the scent overpowering.
—
Lisa Desantis,
Glamour,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Coral is the ultimate summer manicure shade, striking the perfect balance between pink and orange for a look that's vibrant without feeling overpowering.
—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Baby wipes or non-scented lotion will also fix an overpowering scent.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
The overpowering moral authority of wronged women, #MeToo’s skeptics alleged, would allow cynical wrongdoers to weaponize claims of victimhood for their own gain.
—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
No pitcher has been as overpowering as Garcia was under the lights.
—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
There was no overpowering onion, which drives me nuts in potato salad.
—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Apr. 2026
The Elden Ring sets are looking very real in a way that summons an overpowering urge to replay a game that takes 400 hours to get through.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Once any chemical smells are gone, a lightly scented candle or diffuser adds a nice touch without being too overpowering.
—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
The stench of death in Sinjar was so overpowering that Holland had to stop talking on camera.
—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
From airy mesh fabrics to sleek, low-profile shapes, this season’s trending shoes have a way of elevating an outfit without overpowering it.
—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2026
Cam Schlittler struck out 13 in six overpowering innings for his first double-digit strikeout game in the regular season, and the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Friday night.
—
CBS News,
19 June 2026
The Prisoner’s Share was first released in 2022, and shows how an artful red wine finish can be achieved without overpowering the whiskey with fruit and tannic notes.
—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
While Sale is a hard thrower and Kershaw also had outstanding velocity early in his career, Wainwright and Greinke succeeded without overpowering fastballs.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The natural texture adds a relaxed, warm-weather vibe that pairs especially well with lightweight outfits like linen sets and sundresses without overpowering them.
—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
The games were neither displays of baseball elegance nor overpowering runaways.
—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Slaten began in top form, overpowering Goldschmidt and likely American League MVP contender Ben Rice, but Bellinger retook the lead for New York with a home run to right-center.
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
The dressing, based on nuoc cham, a traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce, has just enough fish sauce to give it depth and pungency without overpowering the brightness of the lime.
—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowering
Noun
-
Testimony to this, kids under 12 only represented 4% of the audience for Masters of the Universe during its opening weekend according to Deadline, with the over 35 age group dominating at 57% and the over 45s, who grew up on the original cartoon, coming to 36%.
-
Ben Brown’s pitching line didn’t necessarily reflect a dominating outing — one run on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings — but his start Saturday night against the Giants was one of his best of the season.
Adjective
-
None of that stopped lots of British journalists turning up in Makerfield to write about the irresistible lure of Reform to working-class voters.
-
With his irresistible positivity, Towers, who’s spent years refining his craft, still feels like someone at the start of a much bigger story.
Verb
-
Viewers have already seen glimpses of the premiere, which involves Aang and Katara subduing a sea serpent while guiding refugees across a treacherous path.
-
Officers then shot her with a Taser, subduing her enough to take her into custody, police said.
Verb
-
This geometric rug adds visual interest without overwhelming your existing furniture and decor.
-
Use plants with similar sun and soil needs to complement dahlias without overwhelming them.
Noun
-
To that point, human history was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies, a world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage and the many were ruled by the few.
-
Related Stories What these producers share is a conviction that the Canaries’ historical position — as a staging post for conquest, migration and ecological transformation — generates stories with the kind of cross-cultural resonance that buyers in Japan, West Asia and Latin America will recognize.
Adjective
-
Lynn's infectious personality and ongoing quest for selfies made her someone that everyone wanted to know, and her sharp wit kept readers coming back for more.
-
The traveler was infectious while passing through Los Angeles County, potentially exposing others at LAX and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Verb
-
Olivia Rodrigo Finally Hits the Downloads Chart’s Summit Rodrigo has come very close to conquering the Official Album Downloads chart in the past, but her first two studio LPs missed the throne by just one space.
-
For decades, biologists thought that early tetrapods, ancient vertebrates that started conquering the land over 300 million years ago, developed like modern amphibians—beginning their lives as purely aquatic tadpoles and then metamorphosing into terrestrial adults.
Verb
-
Loss of this support, which is said to cover 25% of the center’s operating costs, would have been devastating both financially and reputationally.
-
These giant invasive snakes are devastating the Everglades ecosystem by eating through the native food web without any natural predators to keep them in check.
Cite this Entry
“Overpowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowering. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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