as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
the principal overstepped her authority in ordering everyone to remain in the unheated school
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Recent Examples of overstepped
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
In their lawsuit opposing the rules change, airlines and their trade group said the Biden administration overstepped its authority and the new requirements were too burdensome.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 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
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
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
In their lawsuit opposing the rules change, airlines and their trade group said the Biden administration overstepped its authority and the new requirements were too burdensome.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overstepped
Verb
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The Hornets have experienced 23 sellouts this season, establishing a new mark in the uptown arena, and exceeded an average of 18,000 fans per game.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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On a night where Clay Holmes was dominant, tossing seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Roupp exceeded his minuscule margin of error.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The unemployment rate of recent college graduates has surpassed that of all workers, according to New York Federal Reserve Bank data.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The project was such a big hit that the Russos and Hargrave had to bring its main character back from the dead (Hemsworth’s Rake seemed to have died at the end of the first film) for the second installment, which surpassed the streaming numbers of the first pic.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overstepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overstepped. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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