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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overweening
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
Trump’s pushback against overweening Chinese influence in the canal is a welcome revival and application of the Monroe Doctrine, formulated by James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, which seeks to keep the Western Hemisphere free from imperial powers outside it.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Feb. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025
Trump’s pushback against overweening Chinese influence in the canal is a welcome revival and application of the Monroe Doctrine, formulated by James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, which seeks to keep the Western Hemisphere free from imperial powers outside it.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Feb. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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Perhaps the frustration this time will be mitigated slightly as EV owners feel a bit smug about eliminating range anxiety.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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There really was a secret cabal of the rich and powerful who committed horrific crimes, smug in the knowledge that their money and power would protect them.—
Pat Beall,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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One position scrutinized in a new state audit of excessive spending by former University of Florida President Ben Sasse is the long-distance position created for former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn.—
Vivian Jones,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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From hyperloops to solar roofs to trillion-dollar savings from federal budget cuts by DOGE, Musk has developed a reputation for excessive boasts and telling outright whoppers.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But this act of arrogant bullying should also re-kindle the spirit of hope and unity that swept through this community in the aftermath of that horrible night in 2016, that still binds Orlando in its 150th anniversary year.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
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Harry Potter fans might recognize Stroma for playing the arrogant Hogwarts student named Cormac McLaggen in the film franchise.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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So, the narrative that AI is omniscient and omnipotent at displacing labor works well to convince investors to pay inflated valuation premiums for companies that expend huge resources on building data centers and hiring AI engineers and data scientists.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The data showed wildly inflated salaries being paid to employees at the Everglades camp under a $78 million state contract with Critical Response Strategies (CRS), a Jacksonville firm with ties to DeSantis.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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This is a proud program with a history of success, but Southern Miss has fallen on hard times, with four losing records in the last five seasons.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Next time, put your phone away, watch, and be proud.—
Janine Clements,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Scientists say the findings shed new light on the potential for life to exist in extreme environments using the chemical compound methane instead of sunlight.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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The costs of extreme weather, supply chain disruptions, and falling labor productivity are all visible on the horizon, with ample academic research to back them up.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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According to the story, the tow truck driver’s removal of an ICE SUV was just a routine removal and the story of a bunch of ICE vans being stalked by tow trucks was exaggerated.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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In the photoshoot, Kelce presents a stereotypical (and exaggerated) embodiment of masculinity — he is dressed in full fur, construction vests and wrangles alligators.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Cena gets to show off his mane of hair while playing Peacemaker, the egotistical vigilante that made his debut in 2021's Suicide Squad and now leads the acclaimed HBO Max series also starring Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, and Jennifer Holland.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Such an obvious way to exhibit his egotistical personality.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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