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

2

: 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

Choose the Right Synonym for overbearing

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of overbearing in a Sentence

He had to deal with his overbearing mother.

Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable.

Recent Examples on the Web

The veteran actress is starring in the play as an overbearing Italian matriarch named Maria Collavechio, who coincidentally shares more than a few personality traits in common with Shirley. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025

Anarchists rivaled Marxists in their efforts to capture the radical imagination, offering visions of a society shorn of an overbearing state. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

At 18 tracks — with two more on the deluxe edition — Jump Out feels expansive without ever trudging into the realm of seeming overbearing. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025

Happiest Baby also provides guidance on handling overbearing grandparents, advising parents to explain their choices, ask about the grandparents' own boundaries, and ensure mutual respect. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for overbearing

• airing
• bearing
• blaring
• caring
• chairing
• charing
• daring
• erring
• fairing
• flaring
• glaring
• haring

Kids Definition

overbearing

adjective

over·​bear·​ing

-ˈba(ə)r-iŋ,

-ˈbe(ə)r-

: arrogant, domineering

overbearingly adverb