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to make (something) no longer valid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

The only overriding lesson may be that there are no overriding lessons. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

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

Verb

And when money or power are the overriding motivations, the more fundamental human pursuits—no matter how noble, socially beneficial, or life-affirming—fall by the wayside. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

For some of the co-hosts, however, the overriding concern is that Partiful is not damaged by association. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026