overreach
verb
over·reach ˌō-vər-ˈrēch 
ˌō-və-
overreached; overreaching; overreaches
transitive verb
1
: to reach above or beyond : overtop
2
: to defeat (oneself) by seeking to do or gain too much
3
: to get the better of especially in dealing and bargaining and typically by unscrupulous or crafty methods
intransitive verb
1
of a horse : to strike the forefoot with the front part of the hind foot
2
a
: to go to excess
b
: exaggerate
3
: to overreach oneself
overreach
ˈō-vər-ˌrēch
noun ˈō-və-
ˌō-vər-ˈrēch ˌō-və-
overreacher
ˈō-vər-ˌrē-chər
noun ˈō-və-
ˌō-vər-ˈrē-chər
ˌō-və-
Synonyms
- fox
- outfox
- outmaneuver
- outslick
- outsmart
- outthink
- outwit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She overreaches in her latest book, and her argument is not convincing. The company overreached itself and ran out of money after one year.
Recent Examples on the Web But it’s winning politics — unless Democrats obnoxiously overreach. 
Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2022 There are, however, two areas where Republicans could overreach. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 2 Sep. 2021 Do not overreach and erode the constitutional norms that were under assault that day. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 26 May 2021 State Planning Secretary Robert McCord said in a statement that the push to quell the commission’s development discussions came out of concerns that the state body might overreach into what should be a matter for local governments to handle. Scott Dance, baltimoresun.com, 21 Dec. 2021 While the prose may overreach on occasion, more often it conveys insight. David A. Shaywitz, WSJ, 19 July 2021 Fischetti said any charges against the company based on fringe benefits would be overreach by prosecutors. Bernard Condon, ajc, 25 June 2021 Like many top puck-handlers (see: David Pastrnak), Hall can overreach when going one-on-one, but Cassidy didn’t say that has been a major issue. BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2021 They were intended to be cautionary tales, warning women not to overreach, but the author wonders what would happen if women were to stop reading them as warnings and instead embrace them as aspirations. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2021 See More
Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2022 There are, however, two areas where Republicans could overreach. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 2 Sep. 2021 Do not overreach and erode the constitutional norms that were under assault that day. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 26 May 2021 State Planning Secretary Robert McCord said in a statement that the push to quell the commission’s development discussions came out of concerns that the state body might overreach into what should be a matter for local governments to handle. Scott Dance, baltimoresun.com, 21 Dec. 2021 While the prose may overreach on occasion, more often it conveys insight. David A. Shaywitz, WSJ, 19 July 2021 Fischetti said any charges against the company based on fringe benefits would be overreach by prosecutors. Bernard Condon, ajc, 25 June 2021 Like many top puck-handlers (see: David Pastrnak), Hall can overreach when going one-on-one, but Cassidy didn’t say that has been a major issue. BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2021 They were intended to be cautionary tales, warning women not to overreach, but the author wonders what would happen if women were to stop reading them as warnings and instead embrace them as aspirations. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Medical Definition
overreach
intransitive verb
over·reach -ˈrēch
of a horse
: to strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or quarter of the forefoot
Legal Definition
overreach
transitive verb
over·reach ˌō-vər-ˈrēch
: to make (someone or something) the subject of overreaching
this uncounseled defendant was…overreached by the prosecution's submission of misinformation to the court Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948)
Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948)must determine whether it overreached privilege National Law Journal
National Law Journaloverreaching
verb
1
as in thwarting
to get the better of through cleverness a real estate developer who is always trying to overreach his competitors, fair means or foul Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thwarting
- deceiving
- defeating
- outmaneuvering
- outsmarting
- outwitting
- overcoming
- outfoxing
- circumventing
- outslicking
- outthinking
- fooling
- balking
- frustrating
- impeding
- tricking
- baffling
- outguessing
- hindering
- foiling
- foxing
- gulling
- obstructing
- second-guessing
- duping
- conquering
- blocking
- cozening
- licking
- barring
2
as in exceeding
to go beyond the limit of the mountain climbers overreached their abilities and paid for it dearly Synonyms & Similar Words
- exceeding
- overstepping
- surpassing
- overshooting
- transcending
- outreaching
- encroaching
- overrunning
- outrunning
- overpassing
- invading
- infringing
- trespassing
- overdoing
- breaking
- overusing
- overworking
- entrenching
- overutilizing
- intrenching