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
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
The frosting has an artificial-sweetener flavor that overpowers everything.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
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
The frosting has an artificial-sweetener flavor that overpowers everything.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overpowers
Verb
-
Ash, dark and warm, dominates the landscape here.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
While free agency largely dominates the headlines at this point in the MLB offseason, Thursday marks an important deadline for clubs to take care of some other important business ahead of the new season.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.—
Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
But even here, her sincerity overcomes her weakness for sentimental flourishes, including Amine Bouhafa’s treacly score.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The research team at Tokyo Polytechnic University has now demonstrated a simple and affordable VLC system that overcomes several of these obstacles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The winner of a duel conquers his opponent’s square, gaining more ground – the loser leaves the game.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For Nawaf Abdulhadi, joy comes when the choir conquers a difficult phrase in perfect unison.—
Billboard Arabia,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Michael Winner’s gritty urban thriller starred Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, an everyman architect who becomes a vigilante after a brutal assault devastates his family.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Maximum deceleration subjects New Shepard crews to about five times the normal pull of gravity.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2025
-
The Miami Beach ordinance subjects people — mostly those who are homeless — to arrest for sleeping outside.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Richard Raffalow Valley Glen Navy defeats Cincinnati 35-13 in the Liberty Bowl and is ranked 22 in the latest AP poll.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Narrow defeats to a rejuvenated Milan and reigning champions Napoli were far easier to swallow, and a victory in Sardinia would have seen Roma stay within a point of the leading duo.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overpowers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overpowers. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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