- present participle of overpower.
overpowering
Americanadjective
adjective
-
so strong or intense as to be unbearable
-
so powerful as to crush or conquer
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of overpowering
Vocabulary lists containing overpowering
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Iga Swiatek continued her Wimbledon title defence by overpowering former finalist Karolina Pliskova in a commanding straight-set victory to reach the third round.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
It left Brian and his neighbours dealing with smoke, ash and an overpowering "chemical" smell which some described as like living in a "war zone".
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
Mr. Sturridge is almost animalistic and at times absurdly funny in delineating Mat’s sudden and obsessive love; it seems to draw him to Anna with an almost overpowering force.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
Lower-end soy sauces tend to have a higher salt content, which can be overpowering in your sweet cookie batter.
From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2025
And I can’t help but notice something that stands out even more than the bronze lion sculptures and the overpowering aroma of noodles and soy sauce.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.