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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overweening
Instead, the grande dame of hospitality was replaced by an overweening, obscenely tall, utterly out of place, speculative supertall skyscraper: the Empire State Building.
—
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 July 2025
But an overweening chorus of voices—from legislators, media, and civilian organizations—declared that, unlike white citizens of German and Italian descent, danger lurked in Japanese American bodies.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2025
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
Iraqi nationalism is the ultimate hedge against Iran’s overweening ambitions; no Iraqi wishes for his or her country to become a pawn of Iran.
—Linda S. Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 July 2025
But an overweening chorus of voices—from legislators, media, and civilian organizations—declared that, unlike white citizens of German and Italian descent, danger lurked in Japanese American bodies.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2025
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
Iraqi nationalism is the ultimate hedge against Iran’s overweening ambitions; no Iraqi wishes for his or her country to become a pawn of Iran.
—Linda S. Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
-
But that poem is no smug cliché.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Marcello is looking especially smug and evil in this scene for reasons unclear.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This can include excessive trim details, contrasting paint colors on every wall, or ceiling features that are too deep or too busy for the size of the room.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The President’s threat landed hours after a judge decided not to issue a temporary restraining order after Minnesota and the Twin Cities filed a lawsuit against federal officials, citing excessive force being used by agents.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
A lot of people who are that level of arrogant, there’s also an immense insecurity, right?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The boy is arrogant, Helen thinks.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After it’s fully inflated, anesthesia is added to the water.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Jan. 2026
-
However, Spak thinks Rivian’s risk-reward ratio now appears less favorable, saying the company’s current valuation may be too inflated.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
South Florida sports history is proud to have been the host for Crump’s barrier-busting history.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The Big Ten is marching into the heart of Southern football with a proud swagger, daring any conference to challenge its claim as the power to beat in the College Football Playoff.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
However, there's no strong evidence suggesting that strength-training in a fasted state is superior to training in a fed state for muscle growth or performance.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Neither assurance of German manufacture nor of superior sound quality sufficed to get the bills back into the salesman’s palm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The measure’s lead proponent, the Service Employees International Union, sees the threat of an exodus as exaggerated.—
MIchael R. Blood,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
But current and former leaders of foster care agencies told the Tampa Bay Times last year that the claims were exaggerated or false, and that the Hope Florida program was duplicating existing efforts in child welfare.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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