overpowering
Americanadjective
adjective
-
so strong or intense as to be unbearable
-
so powerful as to crush or conquer
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
But, six months after sustaining a calf tear during that final, Kerr demonstrated his return to full fitness by overpowering world-class opposition as the complete line-up of Olympic 1500m medallists went head to head.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
She finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, four of which she tallied on offense, simply by overpowering whichever Trojan big she was up against.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026
More shocking still, Cignetti has the Hoosiers overpowering opponents and outmuscling stars, despite a roster that doesn’t feature a single five-star recruit.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026
Anything that adds ballast and soaks up the warm bits without overpowering them earns a spot here.
From Salon • Dec. 16, 2025
When Mr. Reilly had been standing next to him pointing out the passages in the notebook, the scent had grown overpowering.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
![]()
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.