overpowering

[oh-ver-pou-er-ing]

adjective

1. that overpowers; overwhelming.

   an overpowering conviction of the truth.

Other Word Forms

• overpoweringly adverb
• overpoweringness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpowering¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; overpower + -ing ²

Example Sentences

His eyes filled with tears, but it might have been from the overpowering smell of herring.

Read more on Literature

The smell was so overpowering Penelope could barely speak.

Read more on Literature

An enormous French fleet was attempting to invade England by sailing up the Solent Strait and overpowering the British fleet and the naval facilities at Portsmouth.

Read more on Literature

The second act is where the relationship between Hildegard and Richardis blossoms and with it, musically, the arrival of rapture and onset of an ecstasy more overpowering than Godly visions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, overpowering the Dodgers on the sport’s grandest stage to propel the Blue Jays to within one win of their first championship in 32 years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• irresistible 
• overwhelming 
• powerful 
• uncontrollable