Thesaurus results for OVERPROTECTIVE

overprotective

adjective

as in protective

trying too hard to protect someone (such as a child) from danger His overprotective mother won't let him go out after dark. He is overprotective of his little sister.

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of overprotective The boy’s name is Petros (Karydis) must hide behind a mask per his strict grandmother, who is the mayor, and his overprotective mother. —

Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 The story follows a rough-around-the-edges man (Gyllenhaal) who ends up sharing an unwanted journey with his fiancée’s prickly, overprotective father (Costner) after a life-altering turn upends their plans. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 May 2026 Jeon-bok is overprotective of her beloved granddaughter, who lives life with a dangerous heart condition. —

Kayti Burt, Time, 15 May 2026 Pascal has a deep connection to The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola’s 1999 feature directorial debut, which stars Kirsten Dunst as Lux Lisbon—one of five sisters raised by overprotective Catholic parents. —

José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 The original 2003 Pixar movie, produced for Walt Disney Pictures, tells the story of an overprotective clownfish, Marlin, searching for his missing son, Nemo. —

Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 After everything the children had gone through, their grandparents may have been a little overprotective. —

Libby Smith, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026 Wright plays the overprotective mother Laura Sanderson in the Amazon Prime series, The Girlfriend, who spirals when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) brings home his new mysterious girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke). —

Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026 Season 3 As Season 3 begins, Eleven and Mike are officially a couple and can't keep their hands off each other, upsetting an overprotective Hopper, who tries to break them up. —

Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overprotective

Adjective

If successful, this technology could produce longer-lasting, blowout-resistant tires and more protective electronics cases.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026
Each piece is crafted from solid acacia wood that is naturally weather-resistant and sealed with a protective finish for an extra layer of durability.

— Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026