OVERQUALIFIED Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

overqualified

adjective

Definition of overqualified

as in skilled

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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 overqualified Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound At this time in 2025, the Dodgers deployed the most overqualified opener of all time. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Others shared similar impressions of a cutthroat job market, in which a glut of overqualified candidates are competing for junior and mid-level software engineering jobs. — Joel Khalili, Wired News, 28 May 2026 Social media is rife with frustrated job seekers submitting hundreds of applications with no callbacks and overqualified candidates desperately throwing resumes at entry-level positions. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, overqualified singers like Ravyn Lenae, Mustafa, and Omar Apollo do some of the background vocal riffs that Harlow’s limited range won’t reach. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overqualified

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overqualified

Adjective

When an accident occurs on a steep part of the road, police and emergency services wait until skilled climbers arrive.

— Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Beyond its locations and skilled crews, the city brings together the connections, accommodation, infrastructure and specialist services needed to organize a complex production.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of skilled

Adjective

No wonder the action sequences never seem exhilarating — Latif may be adept at staying alive, but the sanctity of his soul is another matter entirely.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Advances in the sector also increase the chance of nefarious actors launching devastating cyberattacks, with AI becoming increasingly adept at identifying and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

— Stephen Collins, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of adept

Adjective

Often a parent hears a child speaking English with friends or siblings and assumes the child is already proficient and has exited the program, Villarreal said.

— Emily Woodruff, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
The most technically proficient person in the room is not always the most valuable.

— Cuong Nguyen Cao, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of proficient

Adjective

Cooking editor Cody Reiss wrote in his latest newsletter that his more experienced co-workers all seemed to have a similar rhythm to their stovetop cooking.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
More than 1,000 employees have moved into driving roles through the program, where first-year drivers can make up to $115,000 annually and more experienced drivers can earn up to $135,000, according to the company.

— Alice Barlow, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of experienced

Adjective

He was sentenced to time served since he was held involuntarily for mental health treatment until he was deemed competent to face criminal charges, the sheriff’s office said.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Participants see that competent people, powerful AI tools and individually strong solutions can still create weak outcomes when everyone is optimizing a different part of the system.

— Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of competent

Adjective

Directed by Li Taige, the film stars Yu Qian as a retiring veteran police officer who discovers suspicious anomalies during an apparently routine theft investigation.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
While there are several veteran artists like Madonna who are familiar with the stage, many others are making their VMA debuts — including RAYE, GENER8ION and Yung Lean.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of veteran

Adjective

Here, Forbes Coaches Council members share their expert advice for evaluating a potential side gig while protecting performance at a day job and balancing personal commitments.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Anthropic said this type of genome-mining work could take an expert scientist weeks or months.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of expert

Browse Nearby Words

overprotective

overqualified

overran

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“Overqualified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overqualified. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of overqualified

adjective

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