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

Relevance

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 The capex guidance overshadowed an otherwise impressive quarter — especially the 82% year-over-year surge in Google Cloud revenue. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 July 2026 Transportation headache Transportation is one of the most serious problems Cubans have traditionally faced, though it has been overshadowed by more basic needs like electricity and water. — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 The film paints a portrait of pioneering photojournalist Gerda Taro, the German-Jewish war photographer, anti-fascist and artist whose legacy has long been overshadowed. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026 But that noise should not overshadow the fact that under Makary’s leadership, the FDA enacted a large number of major reforms. — Avik Roy, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for overshadow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overshadow
  1. obscure
  2. outweigh
  3. darken
  4. blur
  5. blacken
Verb
  • Yet statistics alone obscure another story and one that is rarely centered in public memory.
    — Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Their selective invocations of Washington may have obscured his complicity, but some abolitionists truly believed doing so would help bring the horror of American slavery to an end.
    — John Garrison Marks, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • However, for someone at substantial cardiovascular risk, the reduction in heart attacks and strokes generally outweighs this small increase in diabetes risk.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • Because of that, the price tag and the number of stops will always outweigh a brand's abstract performance data.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of outweigh
Verb
  • As a makeup product, it can be used as a primer, highlighter, bronzer, foundation shade adjuster (pick a shade to darken or lighten a complexion product that’s a little bit off), and even a skin tint thanks to its sheer but transformative pigment.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 20 July 2026
  • The Hapsburg Inspector General, the equivalent of the food inspector darkening the doorway of a scummy restaurant?
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of darken
Verb
  • Olsen first teased his relationship with Dockerty in October, soft-launching his new beau by blurring out his face in photos on social media.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Both kinds of misconduct blur the line between a victim and perpetrator, experts in child protection said.
    — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 20 July 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • It was blackened, charred, the conductor that had drawn the single precise punch of lightning.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026
  • If basil is exposed to freezing temperatures, the result is frost damage that can cause leaves to blacken.
    — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 26 July 2026
Definition of blacken

Browse Nearby Words

oversexed
overshadow
overshadowed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overshadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overshadow. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on overshadow

Nglish: Translation of overshadow for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All