1
as in obscuring
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 outweighing
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 overshadowing
People have the desire to evolve together, and get past the minor annoyances of a Gemini being too flighty for an intense Scorpio or a Leo’s dramatics overshadowing Taurus’s kindness.
—
Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Early fundraising disclosures highlight stark contrasts in Maryland’s competitive Democratic congressional primaries, with David Trone’s personal wealth overshadowing April McClain Delaney’s campaign while Kweisi Mfume maintains a strong cash advantage over challengers.
—Ben Mause, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, the party has been increasingly consumed by internal leadership battles and strategic disagreements, often overshadowing its role within government.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In the opening portion of his press conference, Powell avoided answering most questions about the extraordinary political backdrop overshadowing the meeting, including questions about the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into the Fed chief.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Dusty May’s Wolverines have the best shot with the most talented frontcourt in the sport, which is overshadowing the brilliant play of point guard Elliot Cadeau.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
But here, too, the emphasis on operational success risks overshadowing the political aftermath.
—Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
These broader geopolitical shifts may reshape global norms for years, overshadowing short-term market moves.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And for better or worse, humanoids are overshadowing everything else, raising questions about what will happen if the companies building them ultimately do not succeed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Early fundraising disclosures highlight stark contrasts in Maryland’s competitive Democratic congressional primaries, with David Trone’s personal wealth overshadowing April McClain Delaney’s campaign while Kweisi Mfume maintains a strong cash advantage over challengers.
—Ben Mause, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, the party has been increasingly consumed by internal leadership battles and strategic disagreements, often overshadowing its role within government.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In the opening portion of his press conference, Powell avoided answering most questions about the extraordinary political backdrop overshadowing the meeting, including questions about the Department of Justice’s criminal investigation into the Fed chief.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Dusty May’s Wolverines have the best shot with the most talented frontcourt in the sport, which is overshadowing the brilliant play of point guard Elliot Cadeau.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
But here, too, the emphasis on operational success risks overshadowing the political aftermath.
—Cristina Guevara, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
These broader geopolitical shifts may reshape global norms for years, overshadowing short-term market moves.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And for better or worse, humanoids are overshadowing everything else, raising questions about what will happen if the companies building them ultimately do not succeed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overshadowing
Verb
-
Where at the beginning of the period, the boyish, figure-obscuring flapper dress was the au courant silhouette, by the end, fashion was shifting toward the more body-conscious bias cut.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
This footage is overlaid with rapidly shifting colors via video synthesizer, obscuring our view, and an iris that periodically frames the runner.—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The universe is overrun with dark matter, outweighing the ordinary stuff that stars and planets are made of five-to-one.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Some cities are pricier than others potentially outweighing the pros the city has to offer.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In one scene, someone holds up a phone showing the real footage of the Red Crescent workers that day, further blurring the lines between documentary and performance.—
Alexander Durie,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In 2026, however, formulas are more playful, blurring the lines between lip care and flair—pairing the benefits of traditional ointments with the versatility of makeup.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The image was captured shortly after Earth's curved inner shadow began its slow journey across the lunar disk, darkening the lunar seas sprawling across the western portion of its surface.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away, darkening the sky.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overshadowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overshadowing. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
