1
as in to defeat
to get the better of through cleverness
a real estate developer who is always trying to overreach his competitors, fair means or foul
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to exceed
to go beyond the limit of
the mountain climbers overreached their abilities and paid for it dearly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overreach
While suppressing items from an initial, warrantless backpack search at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, the judge found a later inventory search lawful, allowing key evidence despite defense claims of police overreach.
—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
The premiere audience gasped and snorted in disbelief as Stan and Reinsve suffer the indignity of an overreaching state — removing teens, tweens and an infant from their loving care.
—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
18 May 2026
If governments operated with Hayekian principles in mind, there would be more robust commitments to checks-and-balances to ensure government doesn’t overreach.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
The top 3 issues facing our communities in District 2 and San Diego are the high cost of living, crumbling infrastructure and overreaching outsiders.
—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overreach
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
The premiere audience gasped and snorted in disbelief as Stan and Reinsve suffer the indignity of an overreaching state — removing teens, tweens and an infant from their loving care.
—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
18 May 2026
If governments operated with Hayekian principles in mind, there would be more robust commitments to checks-and-balances to ensure government doesn’t overreach.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
The top 3 issues facing our communities in District 2 and San Diego are the high cost of living, crumbling infrastructure and overreaching outsiders.
—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for overreach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overreach
Verb
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And the resounding manner of Burnham’s win – comprehensively defeating Reform weeks after Labour was routed in local elections – gives him considerable momentum too.
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Scotland, which defeated Haiti 1-0 on the same field last Friday, likely would need to beat or draw Brazil in its group-stage finale in Miami to qualify for the Round of 32.
Verb
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Those bags must not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches (30 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm).
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The agreement also includes an option for the city to extend the contract for two additional one-year terms, with costs not to exceed $19,550 annually in 2027 and 2028.
Verb
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In the 31st minute, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi received the ball downfield in front of the box but was thwarted by Haiti's goalkeeper Johny Placide.
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Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
Verb
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Gas and diesel prices didn’t surpass their 2022 highs.
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Since her passing, Sonoma County experienced the most destructive wildfires in California history in 2017, only for another, more destructive fire to surpass it a year later.
Verb
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The thing is, a lot of people have a talent for deceiving the public.
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Park and weather officials alike emphasize to Grand Canyon visitors that hiking conditions can be deceiving.
Verb
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Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
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Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
Verb
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The question is no longer whether Vannacci will influence the vote, but whether Meloni can contain, co-opt or outmaneuver her challenger.
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The question, analysts say, is no longer whether Vannacci will influence the vote, but whether Meloni can contain, co-opt or outmaneuver a challenger carving out political space to her right.
Verb
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Mosquitoes just might be outsmarting us Mosquitoes may be beating us at our own game − by making repellent attractive.
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In research released Monday, Amazon scientists Gaurav Gupta and Vatshank Chaturvedi document in careful technical detail why AI agents have a persistent tendency to outsmart themselves—and why fixing the problem requires rethinking the entire layer of software between the model and its tools.
Cite this Entry
“Overreach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overreach. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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