1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
overweening desire for wealth and fame
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3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
an overweening administrator who simply doesn't know how to manage people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inflated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds
an overweening national pride that prompted its citizens to denigrate other countries
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive.
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But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.
Adjective
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Although not always the case, excessive heat warnings usually coincide with heat waves.
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This does not diminish concerns about excessive screen time or the value of reducing distractions during the school day.
Adjective
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West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
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Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
Adjective
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Teams were comfortable paying inflated prices to acquire good young players on appealing contracts.
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Once those inflated bills went unpaid, interest, penalties and fees accumulated, often ending in tax foreclosure.
Adjective
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Mamdani, proud of his socialist values, had developed a language for communicating a collective, interdependent vision of city life through his consistent emphasis on affordability.
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This is also where the film dips into the past and becomes awash in the proud history of Hawaiian surfing, bowing at the legend of the great Duke Kahanamoku and going deep into others and how the sport became such a religion for many, notably devotee Kristen.
Adjective
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The extreme conditions are driven by a heat dome, a high pressure weather system that can trap heat for days, even weeks.
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That day in Redding, temperatures surged to 109 degrees, triggering an extreme heat warning for the area.
Adjective
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Sea cows are superior to land cows, Voegtlin suggested, because land cows eat grains, which humans could survive on in a pinch.
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Their relationship is built, to a large degree, around Jerry’s belief that Roberta is the superior critic — but this, for Jerry, is a form of chivalry, the flower of their love story.
Adjective
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But outside experts and Ukrainian soldiers who spoke to CNN say Russia’s claims of advancement are exaggerated and come as the Kremlin is likely trying to project a narrative of success to counter the impact of recent Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
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According to Nahmias, the low-top shoe’s design is meant to capture the mountainous ranges that meet the water throughout California and features an upper inspired by a popular skate shoe paired with an exaggerated sole made of lightweight materials.
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Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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