1
as in dominates
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 overwhelms
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 overpowers
At 6-4, Kone is a bouncy wing who overpowers defenders with brute strength and agile footwork.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The domination of Celtic and Rangers overpowers Scottish football.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
When the woman exits, her assailant throws her to the ground, rips off her clothes and overpowers her.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
But a dollop of ’95 alt-rock sweetness almost overpowers it.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With most rose fragrances, the rose basically overpowers the whole thing, and this one splits the focus.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Nov. 2025
Nonetheless, her ex’s rage overpowers everything else.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Spinach is green because its chlorophyll content overpowers the orange pigment from beta-carotene.
—Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Taking care of her niece endows the narrator with purpose; love overpowers her.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The domination of Celtic and Rangers overpowers Scottish football.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
When the woman exits, her assailant throws her to the ground, rips off her clothes and overpowers her.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
But a dollop of ’95 alt-rock sweetness almost overpowers it.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With most rose fragrances, the rose basically overpowers the whole thing, and this one splits the focus.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Nov. 2025
Nonetheless, her ex’s rage overpowers everything else.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Spinach is green because its chlorophyll content overpowers the orange pigment from beta-carotene.
—Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Taking care of her niece endows the narrator with purpose; love overpowers her.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowers
Verb
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So tank talk dominates All-Star Weekend, and, boom, instant action by the NBA in terms of Thursday’s brainstorming by team executives.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Gas still dominates the national mix, but its share has been declining as wind and solar expand.—
Suhail Bhat,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, some of the visual scenery projected behind and above the set doesn’t always embrace but overwhelms the acting below.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In practice, fluent dialogue quickly overwhelms reflective distance.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Royd subdues and binds her before taking off to restore the power.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
-
For those who are more into curves than angles, the Bialetti Moon takes all the functional elements of the moka stovetop espresso maker and subdues them with a rounded stainless steel silhouette.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
LithSonic overcomes this challenge by using supersonic flow, similar to the conditions inside a rocket engine, to achieve ultra-rapid cooling through a process known as shock quenching.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
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After a sluggish start, Texas overcomes a 14-point deficit to tie the game before OU's Xzayvier Brown hits a 3-pointer to give his team the halftime lead.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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They're initially separated, because of John's military job that took him away from his family for so long, but their expedition brings them closer again, reminding them that love conquers all – even when you're lost in space.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Cruise down Market Street—skimming past buzzing tech hubs—while your autonomous vehicle conquers steep hills and tight turns with uncanny precision.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2026
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Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His case also lays bare a US immigration system that routinely subjects migrants to prolonged detention under harsh conditions – one that human rights organizations say overwhelmingly ensnares Black and brown people far from the public spotlight.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Maximum deceleration subjects New Shepard crews to about five times the normal pull of gravity.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
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South Carroll defeats Rising Sun in the Class 1A final during the 2026 MPSSAA Dual Wrestling State Championships at North Point High School on Saturday, Feb 14.—
Brian T. Krista,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Feb. 2026
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If New England defeats the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel will become the first person to ever win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach for the same franchise.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overpowers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowers. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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