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
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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
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
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Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
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The ceremony has remained a smug political distraction ever since.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sahil was initially charged with DUI causing injury and vehicular manslaughter, along with enhancements for causing great bodily injury, having an excessive blood-alcohol content and circumstances in aggravation.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the Police Department says an internal affairs investigation determined the claims of excessive force were unfounded.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This is an organization that can be frustratingly set in its ways and arrogant in its belief that there’s no better way.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Under-inflated tires actually force your vehicle to burn more fuel.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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An analysis by a group of leading architects showed that only $329 million of that report’s $1 billion assessment for the city to remain in City Hall would be devoted to repairs, and even that estimate was, according to the architects, vastly inflated.—
Mark Lamster
Architecture Critic,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Nicole Hensley came to Ball Arena a year ago, proud and excited to be part of the first PWHL game in her hometown.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
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Authentic and proud cultural celebrations, luaus are uniquely entertaining and, at times, simply mesmerizing with Polynesian dancing and drumming as well as chants, songs and stories about ancient traditions, legends and epic Pacific Ocean migrations.—
Ben Davidson,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Erin Lee Opponents, however, call the measure extreme and its language deceptive.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Scientists and researchers warn that climate change is shaping people’s daily life in increasingly extreme ways, from whiplash swings between very wet and very dry seasons to earlier springs, more frequent heat waves and shrinking snowpacks.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The 49ers’ entertaining postseason run came to an end against a superior team, as the Bulls dominated the pace of play and rolled to the conference championship.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Mar. 2026
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Iran's response would not defeat a superior military force head-on, but would make operating in the Gulf painful and expensive.—
Imtiaz Tyab,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the best looks of the night featured a dramatic silhouette, from Misty Copeland's exaggerated shoulders to the voluminous mermaid skirt on Rose Byrne's ballgown.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
15 Mar. 2026
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For her nomination for The Substance, Demi Moore opted for a custom Giorgio Armani Privé gown with crystal embroidery, an exaggerated hip, and long train.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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