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to make (something) no longer valid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

Yet Smith never treated short-term self-interest as the sole or overriding goal. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The final overriding decision was therefore not simply a process of adjudicating biological facts, but a judgment about what classification might do. — Max Moser, STAT, 9 July 2026

Verb

Fittingly, Gentling the Horse’s overriding theme is a fascination with the oddballs who scrape by on the fringes of capitalist society. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026

Initially, Jessie’s overriding goal was simply to win back playtime with Bonnie, especially after becoming separated from her during a dance class. — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026