overpower

[oh-ver-pou-er]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overpower ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to overcome, master, or subdue by superior force: to overpower a maniac.

to overcome or overwhelm in feeling; affect or impress excessively: overpowered with confusion and desire.

to gain mastery over the bodily powers or mental faculties of: a strong drink that quickly overpowered him.

to furnish or equip with excessive power: a giant motor that overpowered the pump.

Origin of overpower

First recorded in 1585–95; over- + power

Related formsun·o·ver·pow·ered, adjective

Synonyms for overpower

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overpower ON THESAURUS.COM

1. vanquish, subjugate, conquer, defeat, beat.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for overpower

drub, subdue, smash, overwhelm, rout, trounce, blank, clobber, crush, conquer, defeat, overcome, vanquish, bulldoze, immobilize, murder, prostrate, overthrow, reduce, trash

Examples from the Web for overpower

Contemporary Examples of overpower

And hearing how loud he would scream and overpower the microphone.
The Real Legacy of Richard Nixon
Scott Porch
August 5, 2014
But the statistic cannot overpower the emotional response to flying.
No, Noah Gallagher Shannon, Your Plane Was Not Going to Crash
Clive Irving
June 1, 2013
There are moments the grim metal can overpower the sleazy pop charm of early material.
Guns N’ Roses Rocks Las Vegas
Richard Abowitz
November 14, 2012
Enough smarts to speak before the cameras, but not so much smarts that you overpower your husband.
No More Mrs. Good Wife
Jessica Bennett
July 2, 2011
Blake Gopnik takes a stroll and wonders whether the technology will overpower the art.
Google Takes Street View Inside 17 Museums for Virtual Tours
Blake Gopnik
February 1, 2011

Historical Examples of overpower

He would take her in spite of that; overpower her; force her to go.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The plan of the conspirators had been to shoot down the horses and overpower the escort.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
No, not all: but you overpower me with your wit; and I cannot stand the 'lightning of your eyes.'
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
I am afraid your wealth and his (Antisthenes') combined may overpower me.
The Symposium
Xenophon
You, even more than I, are bound to see that the Assyrians do not overpower us.
Cyropaedia
Xenophon

British Dictionary definitions for overpower

overpower

verb (tr)

to conquer or subdue by superior force

to have such a strong effect on as to make helpless or ineffective

to supply with more power than necessary

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

Word Origin and History for overpower

"to overcome with superior power," 1590s, from over- + power (v.). Related: Overpowered; overpowering.