overbearing
adjective
over·bear·ing ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ 
1
a
: tending to overwhelm : overpowering
had to deal with his overbearing mother
b
: decisively important : dominant
didn't think it was the overbearing consideration here
J. S. Cooper
J. S. Cooper2
: harshly and haughtily arrogant
the mayor's overbearing manner of dealing with employees
overbearingly
ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- arch
- big
- capital
- cardinal
- central
- chief
- dominant
- first
- foremost
- grand
- great
- greatest
- highest
- key
- leading
- main
- master
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- overmastering
- overriding
- paramount
- predominant
- preeminent
- premier
- primal
- primary
- principal
- prior
- sovereign
- sovran
- supreme
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He had to deal with his overbearing mother. Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable.
Recent Examples on the Web The end result is pop gem that puts at the forefront Reik’s romanticism, the type that isn’t overbearing, and Sech’s raw and honest poetry that give life to this exchange of verses between two heartbroken men. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2022 Adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name, Sissy Spacek plays the titular character, an awkward teenager with secret telekinetic abilities and an overbearing religious mother. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Aug. 2022 This striped option adds energy to the space without being too overbearing. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2022 In her memoir, the former child star is unflinchingly honest about her toxic relationship with her overbearing stage mother. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022 The result is a filet that's moist inside with a thin, slightly crispy outer coating that isn't overbearing. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 31 July 2022 On occasion, such symmetry and solace is overbearing and a little too perfect. A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 8 July 2022 In our tests, this machine made espresso that was strong with a crema that wasn't overbearing. Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 24 June 2022 A year later, in 1931, German driver Rudolf Caracciola won the race with the overbearing Mercedes-Benz SSKL, a foreshadow of things to come on the world stage. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 See More
Billboard Staff, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2022 Adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name, Sissy Spacek plays the titular character, an awkward teenager with secret telekinetic abilities and an overbearing religious mother. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Aug. 2022 This striped option adds energy to the space without being too overbearing. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2022 In her memoir, the former child star is unflinchingly honest about her toxic relationship with her overbearing stage mother. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022 The result is a filet that's moist inside with a thin, slightly crispy outer coating that isn't overbearing. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 31 July 2022 On occasion, such symmetry and solace is overbearing and a little too perfect. A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 8 July 2022 In our tests, this machine made espresso that was strong with a crema that wasn't overbearing. Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 24 June 2022 A year later, in 1931, German driver Rudolf Caracciola won the race with the overbearing Mercedes-Benz SSKL, a foreshadow of things to come on the world stage. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
overbearing
adjective
over·bear·ing
ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ
: acting in a proud or bossy way toward other people
overbearing 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in dominant
coming before all others in importance the overbearing problem in our nation's schools Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dominant
- predominant
- main
- greatest
- highest
- primary
- big
- supreme
- foremost
- leading
- central
- first
- overriding
- principal
- chief
- paramount
- key
- overmastering
- sovereign
- master
- cardinal
- great
- prior
- primal
- capital
- arch
- number one
- premier
- preeminent
- distinguished
- outstanding
- grand
- top
- superior
- sovran
- influential
- signal
- illustrious
- eminent
- important
- stellar
- senior
- notable
- major
- numero uno
- mighty
- noble
- No. 1
- prestigious
- noteworthy
- incomparable
- unparalleled
- star
- matchless
- famous
- significant
- famed
- renowned
- momentous
- high-level
- unsurpassed
- unequalled
- unequaled
- celebrated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- least
- last
- unimportant
- insignificant
- slight
- negligible
- minor
- trivial
- subordinate
- secondary
- inconsequential
- inferior
- trifling
- inconsiderable
- collateral
- subsidiary
2
as in domineering
fond of ordering people around the doctor's overbearing attitude is resented by nurses and patients alike Synonyms & Similar Words
- domineering
- authoritarian
- arrogant
- tyrannical
- bossy
- autocratic
- aggressive
- dictatorial
- despotic
- authoritative
- imperious
- commanding
- controlling
- tyrannous
- tyrannic
- proud
- masterful
- peremptory
- stern
- haughty
- autocratical
- uppity
- supercilious
- pretentious
- overweening
- imperial
- superior
- important
- regimental
- disdainful
- presumptuous
- dictating
- arbitrary
- assertive
- assumptive
- pompous
- narcissistic
- uppish
- huffy
- high-and-mighty
- omnipotent
- conceited
- high-handed
- directorial
- lordly
- presuming
- magisterial
- highfalutin
- self-asserting
- lofty
- vain
- almighty
- hifalutin
- toplofty
- imperative
- self-assertive
- fastuous
- high-hat
- toploftical
- all-powerful
- firm
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- meek
- humble
- modest
- unassuming
- obedient
- docile
- amenable
- passive
- indecisive
- tractable
- submissive
- compliant
- irresolute
- yielding
- acquiescent
- resigned
overbearing
2 of 2verb
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over that year the football team simply overbore opponent after opponent with steamroller ruthlessness Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeating
- overcoming
- mastering
- beating
- getting
- conquering
- dispatching
- taking
- subduing
- stopping
- surmounting
- overwhelming
- overmatching
- licking
- besting
- trimming
- upending
- succeeding
- doing down
- worsting
- getting around
- overpowering
- skunking
- sweeping
- finishing
- getting the better of
- upsetting
- prevailing (over)
- crushing
- triumphing (over)
- burying
- winning (against)
- exceeding
- surpassing
- knocking for a loop
- scoring
- slaughtering
- excelling
- annihilating
- flourishing
- flattening
- smoking
- bombing
- routing
- thrashing
- clobbering
- whipping
- blowing out
- subjugating
- capping
- topping
- trouncing
- overthrowing
- excelling
- blowing away
- walloping
- outshining
- transcending
- waxing
- vanquishing
- drubbing
- creaming
- pipping
- shellacking
- eclipsing
- nosing out
- outdoing
- skinning
- outstripping
- breaking
- unseating
- knocking over
- outdistancing
- snowing under
- edging (out)
- knocking off
- overtopping
- bettering
- outfighting
- acing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- losing (to)
- falling
- collapsing
- failing
- flopping
- washing out
- flunking
- going down
- folding
- going under
- giving up
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of overbearing are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, insolent, lordly, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.
an overbearing supervisor
The meanings of arrogant and overbearing largely overlap; however, arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.
a conceited and arrogant executive
In some situations, the words disdainful and overbearing are roughly equivalent. However, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.
disdainful of their social inferiors
While the synonyms haughty and overbearing are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.
a haughty aristocrat
While in some cases nearly identical to overbearing, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.
ignored by an insolent waiter
Although the words lordly and overbearing have much in common, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.
a lordly condescension
The words proud and overbearing can be used in similar contexts, but proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.
too proud to take charity
The words supercilious and overbearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.
an aloof and supercilious manner
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