as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
the principal overstepped her authority in ordering everyone to remain in the unheated school
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of overstepped
Last year, the justices issued temporary orders to block several of his initiatives, but Friday’s ruling is the first to hold that the president overstepped his legal authority.
—
Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Though many in policy-making and legislative positions may have found his views repellant, that did not distract from bipartisan concern that the federal enforcement operation may have overstepped constitutional bounds.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 24 Jan. 2026
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office overstepped its legal bounds in signing an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to assist in immigration enforcement, according to a legal analysis provided to the county’s Board of Supervisors.
—Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Willis pushed back on the notion Tolbert has overstepped.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the 2-1 opinion, the appeals court said Cummings overstepped his authority on the blanket release of the detainees without assessing each case individually.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
The controversy stems from the claim that Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority granted by that act, which does not mention tariffs or specifically authorize the president to impose them.
—Kent Jones, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The controversy stems from the claim that Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority granted by that act, which does not mention tariffs or specifically authorize the president to impose them.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
The Florida Education Association and the United Faculty of Florida filed the administrative challenge last week, contending that state education officials overstepped their legal authority in moving forward with the plan.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Though many in policy-making and legislative positions may have found his views repellant, that did not distract from bipartisan concern that the federal enforcement operation may have overstepped constitutional bounds.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 24 Jan. 2026
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office overstepped its legal bounds in signing an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to assist in immigration enforcement, according to a legal analysis provided to the county’s Board of Supervisors.
—Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Willis pushed back on the notion Tolbert has overstepped.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the 2-1 opinion, the appeals court said Cummings overstepped his authority on the blanket release of the detainees without assessing each case individually.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
The controversy stems from the claim that Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority granted by that act, which does not mention tariffs or specifically authorize the president to impose them.
—Kent Jones, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
The controversy stems from the claim that Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority granted by that act, which does not mention tariffs or specifically authorize the president to impose them.
—Kent Jones, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
The Florida Education Association and the United Faculty of Florida filed the administrative challenge last week, contending that state education officials overstepped their legal authority in moving forward with the plan.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overstepped
Verb
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In the aftermath of the 2007-09 Great Recession, Warsh — then a Fed governor — objected to some of the central bank’s efforts to help the struggling economy by pushing down rates even though unemployment exceeded 9%.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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In the aftermath of the 2007-2009 Great Recession, Warsh — then a Fed governor — objected to some of the central bank’s efforts to help the struggling economy by pushing down rates even though unemployment exceeded 9%.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The average price of new cars fluctuates in the span of a year, but in September, the average price of a new car surpassed $50,000—a record high, according to estimates by Kelley Blue Book.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
-
City Hall’s expenses far surpassed its revenues for the past two years.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overstepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overstepped. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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