overshadow

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈsha-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce overshadow (audio)
Definition of overshadownext
1
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct large trees overshadow the yard and darken the house for much of the day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to outweigh
to be greater in importance than later you'll find that verbal skills overshadow any skills you have at video games

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 overshadow But in the general election, even AIPAC has been overshadowed by the GOP’s big-business donors, many of them in tech, who have given Republicans a historic spending advantage in this year’s contests. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 Compact digital cameras are back, too, with younger consumers embracing devices once overshadowed by smartphone photography. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Within the 2026 Curated Beauty Advent Calendar, Free People also shines a spotlight on its in-house beauty line, which is often overshadowed by the company’s bohemian-and-beloved apparel. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Tensions in the street are contributing to fractious politics ahead of a presidential race overshadowed by debt that will determine Emmanuel Macron’s successor. — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overshadow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overshadow
  1. obscure
  2. outweigh
  3. darken
  4. blur
  5. blacken
Verb
  • As light mist obscured the far-off Chicago skyline, only the faint sounds of metal cranes clanging and construction vehicles beeping in the distance broke up the quiet morning at Park 566 in South Shore.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The result is enough glare remaining to obscure a planet, but Wang and colleagues developed a new approach to this problem.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • Will those risks outweigh the benefits, especially with extremely low early-stage detection for prostate, breast, ovarian, skin, and inadequate evidence of accuracy for many other cancers?
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • For the average family, a steady paycheck remains the single most impactful financial asset, outweighing market movements.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of outweigh
Verb
  • Cook, stirring often, until butter browns and nuts have slightly darkened, 6–8 minutes.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • With all the scoring, the skies darkened to the point where the teams couldn’t continue.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of darken
Verb
  • The immersive premiere, brand collaborations, worldwide activations, and fan participation blurred the line between marketing a movie and creating a cultural event.
    — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Wear it alone or over makeup as the mineral powder blurs imperfections and soothes the skin with a skin-loving formula.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • As the balloon and its occupants fell to the ground, the nylon envelope and the gondola separated, and the wreckage scattered over a roughly 100-yard area, parts of it blackened by the explosion and resulting fire.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The shrinking process had exaggerated some features, vanished others, and blackened the flesh.
    — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of blacken

Browse Nearby Words

oversexed
overshadow
overshadowed
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Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overshadow. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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