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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of overweening
The doctrine itself has had all manner of ill effects on the capacity of employers to apply race-neutral or gender-neutral standards of qualification and fitness, and replaced the concept of an equal opportunity employer with the overweening human resources departments that gave us DEI.
—
The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
The overweening, violent farmer Xan Xanta and his mentally disabled younger brother Loren wanted to sell their land.
—Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
But there’s something dingy and gross, like mottled drifts of old snow, about the overweening influence of Trump’s courtiers and their grubbing relationship with a president so obviously enamored of money and flattery.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
To deny Moscow such a dominant position was the overweening objective of all administrations, Democratic or Republican, since World War II.
—Josef Joffe, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2016
See All Example Sentences for overweening
The Editors, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
The overweening, violent farmer Xan Xanta and his mentally disabled younger brother Loren wanted to sell their land.
—Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
But there’s something dingy and gross, like mottled drifts of old snow, about the overweening influence of Trump’s courtiers and their grubbing relationship with a president so obviously enamored of money and flattery.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
To deny Moscow such a dominant position was the overweening objective of all administrations, Democratic or Republican, since World War II.
—Josef Joffe, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2016
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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However, Ralph has a smug attitude when talking to Brad.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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Colum’s smug assurance that the wedding will happen soon is rocked when Ned shows up with news of the Grants’ suspicions about the raid.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The thunderstorms could also bring excessive rainfall in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri and southern Illinois, bringing a risk of flash flooding, the weather service said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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There are risks of severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall on Saturday from the Ozarks into the mid-Mississippi River Valley with potential for damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some might see you as arrogant.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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Jackson returns as Wes Bryant, a handsome, intelligent, but arrogant man who had just moved to Seattle and was revealed to be a new medical intern at Grey Sloan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And, yes, the flesh-and-bone Panthers get to run through a properly inflated tunnel, accompanied by blasts of smoke and the marching band playing the fight song.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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For years, Bloom was hyped as a Silicon Valley unicorn, but in 2012 the SEC charged an investment bank working with Bloom of using inflated numbers to mislead investors.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Both of our co-founders, along with much of our leadership team, are proud Kentucky natives.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
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In photos from the show, the proud mom and aunt could be seen walking down the runway hand-in-hand with her two sons, while Zaya led the way in front of them.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In Julius Caesar Shakespeare demonstrates the extreme consequences of a lack of due process.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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For extreme pickle lovers, Jimmy John's is also offering the Triple Pickle, a meal deal that features your choice of Picklewich, Pickle Jimmy Chips, and Pickle Ranch.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Viktor & Rolf played with exaggerated pointed collars and shorts with built in denim jackets tied around the waist.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
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Midler joked to Colbert in an exaggerated pleading tone.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Critics said Trump had pushed for the extravagant parade not to commemorate the armed forces, but as a display of his own vanity.—
NPR,
NPR,
19 Oct. 2025
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While some may view it as extravagant goods and high-end services, others see it as occasional splurges, unique experiences and good health.—
Maddie McGay,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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