Synonyms of overriding

overriding 1 of 2

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈrī-diŋ 

as in main

coming before all others in importance

the overriding question is how we will pay for this hurricane cleanup

Synonyms & Similar Words

• main
• primary
• greatest
• predominant
• highest
• dominant
• foremost
• key
• leading
• first
• principal
• big
• central
• supreme
• chief
• paramount
• cardinal
• primal
• prior
• sovereign
• great
• overbearing
• overmastering
• master
• premier
• capital
• number one
• distinguished
• outstanding
• major
• top
• preeminent
• grand
• important
• notable
• eminent
• arch
• superior
• noteworthy
• signal
• high-level
• senior
• numero uno
• influential
• illustrious
• stellar
• prestigious
• unparalleled
• significant
• incomparable
• noble
• unequaled
• unsurpassed
• momentous
• mighty
• star
• famed
• celebrated
• renowned
• famous
• matchless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• least
• last
• minor
• negligible
• slight
• trivial
• secondary
• unimportant
• insignificant
• subordinate
• inferior
• collateral
• inconsequential
• trifling
• inconsiderable
• subsidiary

overriding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of override

1

as in vetoing

to make (something) no longer valid

Don't let the anticipatory anxiety override your excitement about starting grad school.

Upper management reserves the right to override any decisions made by supervisors.

Related Words

• vetoing
• withdrawing
• suspending
• overruling
• canceling
• retracting
• dismissing
• overturning
• rejecting
• reversing
• invalidating
• avoiding
• nullifying
• repealing
• voiding
• negating
• abolishing
• abrogating
• quashing
• rescinding
• recalling
• countermanding
• annulling
• dissolving
• revoking
• vacating
• aborting
• prohibiting
• striking down
• rolling back
• nulling
• erasing
• forbidding
• abating
• removing
• eliminating
• outlawing
• banning
• disannulling
• calling
• enjoining
• calling off
• disallowing
• dropping
• eradicating
• annihilating
• liquidating
• writing off
• throwing out
• breaking down

Dissimilar Words

• authorizing
• permitting
• allowing
• approving
• passing
• endorsing
• clearing
• warranting
• establishing
• enacting
• ratifying
• sanctioning
• founding
• instituting
• laying down
• validating
• legislating
• prescribing
• commanding
• ordering
• mandating
• legitimizing
• legitimating
• legalizing
• decreeing
• formalizing

2

as in smashing

to knock down and drive over

They overrode the picket fence with their pickup in a hasty but effective escape.

Related Words

• smashing
• stamping
• kicking
• stepping (on)
• running over
• running down
• stomping
• trampling
• squashing
• tramping
• squelching
• mashing
• pulping
• booting
• champing
• tromping
• hoofing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of overriding

Adjective

Maximizing the value of a company for shareholders is the overriding priority. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

There was an overriding feeling that for anyone with a casual interest in racing hoping for an affordable day out, Aintree has become too expensive. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Verb

The tests found that during the checkout process, Phia opened a background tab and injected its own cookie into the sales process, overriding legitimate referrals from other publishers. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

The extension was found to open a background tab and drop its own cookie when users made a sale, while even overriding legitimate referrals. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026