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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overweening
That gloss overlooked the reality that people with little wealth or power frequently are forced to contend with overweening bureaucrats who invent their own authority and play by their own rules.
—
Jacob Sullum, Orange County Register, 8 July 2024
The Court also brushed back an overweening Environmental Protection Agency rule, in Ohio v. EPA, that ran roughshod over a congressional design to share responsibility for air quality between the EPA and the states.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 June 2024
There are more talented players than ever, and this fact could blunt, just slightly, the power of the overweening stars.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
For those who truly want to reshape Washington’s overweening and militarized foreign policy, the best approach is not to engage in name-calling but to work to replace the existing foreign policy consensus and its disciples with something better.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
See all Example Sentences for overweening 
Jacob Sullum, Orange County Register, 8 July 2024
The Court also brushed back an overweening Environmental Protection Agency rule, in Ohio v. EPA, that ran roughshod over a congressional design to share responsibility for air quality between the EPA and the states.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 June 2024
There are more talented players than ever, and this fact could blunt, just slightly, the power of the overweening stars.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024
For those who truly want to reshape Washington’s overweening and militarized foreign policy, the best approach is not to engage in name-calling but to work to replace the existing foreign policy consensus and its disciples with something better.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2020
See all Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
Adjective
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On Vanderpump Rules, this man was smug, pathetic, punchable.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2025
-
João Franco Photo: Bravo/Mark Rogers/Bravo Deckhand/Bosun Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 3-4 — 2nd Officer/Bosun Below Deck Down Under Season 2 — Why can’t someone knock the smug look off of this deckie turned bosun’s face?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Progressive reformers viewed this as a modern evil just like unsafe working conditions and the excessive power of trusts.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Jan. 2025
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Those not able to cash in, however, see the program as one of two things: a genuine offer hamstrung by excessive red tape, or a half-hollow gesture meant to rack up free PR in the midst of a historic disaster.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald return as love interest Virginia Venit and arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, respectively, and the cast includes rookies like Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and pro wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
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Those include genial second-year resident Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), arrogant intern Santos (Isa Briones), and doe-eyed med students Javadi (Shabana Azeez) and Whittaker (Gerran Howell).—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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What can be said is that, in spite of the inflated prices, there is interest.—
Verity Burns,
WIRED,
22 Jan. 2025
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These inflated prices are also being driven up further by bidding wars.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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It's also been something of a hit among amateur racers—Mazda is proud that each weekend, more Miatas are on track than any other make of car.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
27 Jan. 2025
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The two grew up in Deir ez-Zor, the largest city in northeastern Syria, a proud, ancient place on the banks of the Euphrates.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There, back-to-back wet winters triggered last year’s extreme land movement that warped roads, cracked houses and transformed landscapes.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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However, these approaches can face challenges, including limited effectiveness in mitigating the sharp, high-frequency impact noises of pickleball and having potential durability issues in extreme weather.—
Scott Miller,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As in pro wrestling, each gesture needs to be the biggest, most exaggerated version of itself.—
James Poniewozik,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2025
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Agave price volatility has been a recurring feature of the agave/Tequila market; however, the breadth of price changes is exaggerated.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.—
Chris Vognar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
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The film, which centers on a group of egotistical actors making a Vietnam War movie, grossed nearly $200 million worldwide and picked up an Oscar nomination for supporting actor thanks to Robert Downey Jr.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
26 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near overweening
Cite this Entry
“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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