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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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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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 Institute, conceived as a massive block of blue-gray concrete with a smokestack-like tower and a series of sepulchre-like chambers, is an overweening symbol of … what?
—
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
The beat is Opium-level rage, but a techno track slips in early like the cross-channel bleed of an overweening radio station.
—Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2024
If his government does not manage to do so, Modi’s desire to play a greater role in the international system will be confounded by China’s overweening presence, both at the border and within India.
—Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
And while there’s a variety of technology on the market designed to address this group, to which my partner and I belong, a lot of it seems somewhat overweening—and doesn’t really work.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024
The beat is Opium-level rage, but a techno track slips in early like the cross-channel bleed of an overweening radio station.
—Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2024
If his government does not manage to do so, Modi’s desire to play a greater role in the international system will be confounded by China’s overweening presence, both at the border and within India.
—Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
And while there’s a variety of technology on the market designed to address this group, to which my partner and I belong, a lot of it seems somewhat overweening—and doesn’t really work.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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Everyone’s relationship has, yes, seasons, and each couple weathers a few different ones during the show, with smug closeness eroding into terse bitterness, doting affection into resentful frustration.—
Margaret Lyons,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Dissections of power and masculinity that once bristled with adversarial vitality evolved into arid dialectics and windy anecdotes pickled in smug cynicism and lacking in thematic clarity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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May Trigger Digestive Issues Though olive oil may have benefits for some symptoms of digestive disorders such as inflammatory disease, consuming excessive amounts of olive oil can cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea.14 3.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2025
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Haley was found guilty on all counts — using excessive force, being deliberately indifferent, witness tampering and conspiracy to witness tamper.—
Jack Armstrong,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The targets of Trump’s economic aggression will accept greater hardship to preserve their dignity than American voters will for the privilege of acting like arrogant menaces.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
29 Apr. 2025
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This feud carries on today, with Hogan having called out Hart for being too arrogant.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Casks are often sold at vastly inflated prices, may not even exist at all, or the same cask is sold to multiple ‘investors’.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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The lawsuit alleges that American homeowners were forced to pay inflated real estate agent commissions, with Keller Williams, Anywhere Real Estate, HomeServices of America, Re/Max, and Redfin all being impacted by the settlement.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are proud of the state of stoner comedy.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
3 May 2025
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The proud regionality of Italy is one such example and this book shows it off beautifully.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The incident seemed to be an example of hazing or, if not, some sort of extreme prank, Fitzpatrick said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
1 May 2025
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The price of coffee beans has already been rising due to crop losses from the extreme weather events of a changing climate, as well as geopolitical uncertainty.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Misleading claims or exaggerated job benefits could backfire and lead to reputational damage.—
Anthony Milewski,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Each thing serves as the cartoonishly exaggerated marker of an identity: berserker populist patriot, effete rich man, savvy dealmaker.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And for any fan of the show — and Wilson’s over-the-top, egotistical Dwight — the lyrics might not be a total surprise.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In the 1998 episode, Theroux, 53, appears briefly as an egotistical writer who flirts with Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw at a party.—
John Russell,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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