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
Relevance
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 overstepped
Administration officials claim Boasberg is biased and overstepped his authority.
—
Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit argues state agencies overstepped, creating rules lawmakers chose not to pass.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
In February, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Trump overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify his tariffs.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the lower courts had overstepped and infringed on executive authority.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 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
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
Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit argues state agencies overstepped, creating rules lawmakers chose not to pass.
—Erin Jones, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
In February, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Trump overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify his tariffs.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the lower courts had overstepped and infringed on executive authority.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overstepped
Verb
-
Johnson and Mazzulla both led teams that widely exceeded most preseason expectations.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The ordeal began with a miscalculation in northern Chile, just south of Calama, where energy demands quickly exceeded expectations.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This rise in fatalities coincides with a record-high detention population, which recently surpassed 70,000 people in federal immigration custody.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The season finale audience was up 30% from the previous week and surpassed the Season 1 finale in 2019, which earned 530,000 viewers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overstepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overstepped. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
