overruns

verb

present tense third-person singular of overrun
1
as in invades
to enter for conquest or plunder waves of barbarians overran the Roman Empire during its long decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exceeds
to go beyond the limit of he must not overrun his authority as governor

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in plagues
to spread or swarm over in a troublesome manner ants are overrunning the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 overruns After Jamie Gittens overruns the ball, Jorrel Hato picks up the pieces and reworks the move out wide to Cole Palmer. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruns
  1. invades
  2. exceeds
  3. plagues
  4. raids
  5. surpasses
  6. infests
  7. ravages
  8. overwhelms
Verb
  • A couple of key injuries to defensive starters come as a high-flying offense led by quarterback Jared Goff invades Bank of America Stadium.
    — Joseph Person, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Damage is often concentrated in the lower areas of the plant, as Verticillium invades hosts from their base, working upwards.
    — Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of invades
Verb
  • Proposition 40 creates a one-time, 5% tax on Californians whose net worth exceeds $1 billion.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The plaintiffs argued that Trump’s order exceeds his presidential authority and violates the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Privacy Act.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of exceeds
Verb
  • The depression that plagues him in winters is nowhere to be found.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Walker, who leads the NFL with 360 rushing yards, also is adept at avoiding an issue that plagues many ball carriers and receivers in the NFL.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
  • In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Definition of raids
Verb
  • Their second record is somewhat sleeker—no song surpasses five minutes—but packs considerable emotion into these tighter forms.
    — Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Tarrant County saw a dip in early voters on Wednesday, but the number of people turning out locally still surpasses Texas’ last midterm election.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of surpasses
Verb
  • That essence is slimy, stinky and unrelenting, as reflected in the mass of algae that infests the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
  • The Lifeform spawns from a black, bacterial mold that infests the yellow wallpaper and moist carpets.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of infests
Verb
  • Over four decades, Steve Hanke has pursued a worldwide quest to tame the hyperinflation that so frequently ravages developing nations.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As Hurricane Lala ravages Hawaii, three people have died amid the storm.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of ravages
Verb
  • The tests could easily do the opposite, as people with results suggesting cancer require follow-up testing that overwhelms our healthcare system, potentially delaying diagnoses for people with cancer.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Histamine intolerance is when histamine from food overwhelms the body’s ability to break it down, Hwang explained.
    — Lauren Finney Harden, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of overwhelms

Browse Nearby Words

overrunning
overruns
oversaw
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Cite this Entry

“Overruns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruns. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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