overawe

[ oh-ver-aw ]
See synonyms for overawe on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),o·ver·awed, o·ver·aw·ing.
  1. to restrain or subdue by inspiring awe; intimidate: He often uses that imperious scowl to overawe his subordinates.

Origin of overawe

1
First recorded in 1570–80; over- + awe

Words Nearby overawe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overawe in a sentence

  • Clubs were formed to discuss the great questions of the day, to mold public opinion, and to overawe the Assembly.

  • Government apprehended an attempt to overawe parliament and stationed soldiers in the neighbourhood of Westminster Hall.

  • Omsk is the center of that military organization of Western Siberia which is intended to overawe the Kirghiz population.

    Michael Strogoff | Jules Verne
  • To hasten the crisis a regiment supported by a naval force was sent to overawe the rebellious town.

    A short history of Rhode Island | George Washington Greene
  • An eye he had––age-wise ways and a glance to overawe my youth––but what was he, after all, in such a case as this?

British Dictionary definitions for overawe

overawe

/ (ˌəʊvərˈɔː) /


verb
  1. (tr) to subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012