domineering

American  

[dom-uh-neer-ing] / ˌdɒm əˈnɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. inclined to rule arbitrarily or despotically; overbearing; tyrannical.

   domineering parents.

   Synonyms:

   oppressive, despotic, arrogant

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domineering British  

/ ˌdɒmɪˈnɪərɪŋ /

adjective

1. acting with or showing arrogance or tyranny; imperious

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Other Word Forms

• domineeringly adverb
• domineeringness noun
• nondomineering adjective
• superdomineering adjective
• undomineering adjective

Etymology

Origin of domineering

First recorded in 1580–90; domineer + -ing ²

Example Sentences

In a profile of Shapiro for The Atlantic, Alberta said the governor “moved between outrage and exasperation” as Alberta shared Harris’ characterizations of Shapiro as overconfident and domineering.

From Salon

Highlights include a pair of shoes worn by the domineering Miss Piggy in a "Muppets" movie, as well as puppets from "Fraggle Rock" and characters from the Netflix series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance."

From Barron's

Hernandez’s Bastian is a formidable presence, angry, strict and domineering — the qualities he’s needed to navigate a bureaucratic system that has little concern for the feelings of immigrant outsiders.

From Los Angeles Times

"Insiders" came to resent the domineering style of Arafat's "outsiders".

From BBC

"It's a very, very controlling and coercive and domineering tactic" which requires "wider awareness," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• arrogant
• autocratic
• bossy
• dictatorial
• imperious
• overbearing
• tyrannical