as in exceeded
to be greater, better, or stronger than
a manager whose arrogance was overtopped only by his ineptitude
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Recent Examples of overtopped
Workers began clearing debris and mud at first light from a catchment area where material had overtopped concrete barriers along the northbound shoulder.
—
Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
The existing levee was just an inch or two away from being overtopped by floodwaters earlier this month, according to Orting’s mayor, Joshua Penner.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Both rivers have overtopped their banks, affecting residential areas, farmland, and roadways, though gradual declines are expected through Friday and into the weekend.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Seawalls were overtopped in sections along Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
In 1941, a huge wave caused by a snow and ice avalanche that fell into Laguna Palcacocha, a glacial lake in the Peruvian Andes, overtopped the moraine dam that had contained the lake for decades.
—Suzanne Oconnell, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Because the flooding has been a growing concern for Juneau over the past several years, city officials with federal assistance installed emergency flood barriers along several miles of riverbanks in the areas deemed most at risk for being overtopped.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
The existing levee was just an inch or two away from being overtopped by floodwaters earlier this month, according to Orting’s mayor, Joshua Penner.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025
Both rivers have overtopped their banks, affecting residential areas, farmland, and roadways, though gradual declines are expected through Friday and into the weekend.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Seawalls were overtopped in sections along Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
In 1941, a huge wave caused by a snow and ice avalanche that fell into Laguna Palcacocha, a glacial lake in the Peruvian Andes, overtopped the moraine dam that had contained the lake for decades.
—Suzanne Oconnell, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2025
Because the flooding has been a growing concern for Juneau over the past several years, city officials with federal assistance installed emergency flood barriers along several miles of riverbanks in the areas deemed most at risk for being overtopped.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtopped
Verb
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the prospect of helping British households with soaring energy bills as oil prices exceeded $100-a-barrel for the first time since 2022, with little sign that the war in Iran is nearing resolution.—
Philip Aldrick,
Bloomberg,
8 Mar. 2026
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As a weekend of intense Santa Ana winds wound down, temperatures neared — or exceeded — all-time highs in Southern California on Sunday.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But its momentum has slowed over the past decade, exacerbated by stringent pandemic controls, while regional rival India has surpassed it as the fastest-growing major economy.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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In February, the company’s exports surpassed its domestic sales for the first time, according to CNBC’s calculations.—
Matthew Chin,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the mornings, a table-service breakfast comes included with the nightly rate for hotel guests, and options include yogurt and granola, eggs Benedict, and oatmeal topped with fruit, plus a selection of coffee or juice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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For a firm texture, press the block between paper towels using a heavy weight, such as a sheet pan topped with a can of tomatoes, for 15 to 30 minutes before cooking.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Military cooperation between the two has remained constrained, and trade and investment flows are eclipsed by those with several Gulf states, as Beijing seeks to maintain balanced ties across the Middle East.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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But the horserace was eclipsed by reports that voters in two major counties, including Crockett's hometown of Dallas, were turned away from polling places.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtopped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtopped. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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