overbear

verb

over·​bear ˌō-vər-ˈber 

overbore ˌō-vər-ˈbȯr  ; overborne ˌō-vər-ˈbȯrn  also overborn ˌō-vər-ˈbȯrn  ; overbearing

transitive verb

1

: to bring down by superior weight or force : overwhelm

2

a

: to domineer over

b

: to surpass in importance or cogency : outweigh

Synonyms

• beat
• best
• conquer
• defeat
• dispatch
• do down [British]
• get
• get around
• lick
• master
• overcome
• overmatch
• prevail (over)
• skunk
• stop
• subdue
• surmount
• take
• trim
• triumph (over)
• upend
• win (against)
• worst

Examples of overbear in a Sentence

that year the football team simply overbore opponent after opponent with steamroller ruthlessness

Recent Examples on the Web

The relationships run the spectrum of tremendous partnerships to overbearing fathers. —Ndaschel, oregonlive, 1 June 2023

Beyond the regular challenges of everyday existence—chaotic households, traffic jams, overbearing bosses—the looming presence of a deadly virus over the past three years has made even mundane decisions feel fraught. —Erik Olsen, Popular Science, 4 May 2023

In the absence of hard numbers, RTO demands can look like overbearing and infantilizing attempts to micromanage employees who are already performing well. —Simon Willis, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023

This is a subtly engaging automobile—enjoyable and refined but never overbearing. —Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 4 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

overbear

verb

over·​bear ˌō-vər-ˈba(ə)r 

-ˈbe(ə)r

overbore -ˈbō(ə)r 

-ˈbȯ(ə)r

; overborne -ˈbō(ə)rn 

-ˈbȯ(ə)rn

also overborn -ˈbȯ(ə)rn  ; overbearing

1

: to bring down by a stronger weight or force : overpower

2

: to exceed in importance or forcefulness : outweigh