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
The dam was in the process of being turned over to area residents when the failure occurred, releasing a torrent that also overtopped the downstream Sanford Dam and flooded the city of Midland.
—
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
Dunes and living levees — gently sloping barriers covered in vegetation — can be overtopped by waves or erode, damaging or possibly rendering nearby homes uninhabitable.
—Lindsey J. Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Apr. 2022
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
Dunes and living levees — gently sloping barriers covered in vegetation — can be overtopped by waves or erode, damaging or possibly rendering nearby homes uninhabitable.
—Lindsey J. Smith, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtopped
Verb
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Shamsid-Deen initially sought to impose a 90-day jail term, but prosecutor Jonah Karls informed him that the sentence exceeded his legal authority, something the judge appeared unaware of.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia broke records set in 1896, and exceeded their 20th century average April temperatures by as much as eight degrees.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The film surpassed $400 million at the global box office, and a sequel that is based on the author’s follow-up book The Housemaid’s Secret is set for release in 2027.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
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Addie Hajj surpassed 100 career goals, helping to fuel North Reading during a 17-8 Cape Ann League victory over Essex Tech.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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This one is infused with marrow and topped with radish, plus more onion, cilantro and salsa on those beautiful blue corn tortillas.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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International benchmark Brent Crude topped $112 a barrel Tuesday with no clear indication of an imminent resolution to the war that has severely constrained shipping traffic through the strait.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At its zenith, sky-gazers can expect to see as many as 50 meteors an hour under optimal conditions, although NASA warns that fainter meteors may be eclipsed by bright moonlight this year.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
3 May 2026
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Jackson LaCombe’s assist on Gauthier’s goal moved him back into a tie for the NHL’s playoff points lead with nine, though he was soon eclipsed when Leon Draisaitl’s assist on a late academic goal pushed the German star’s total to 10.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtopped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtopped. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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