overpower

[ oh-ver-pou-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to overcome, master, or subdue by superior force:

   to overpower a maniac.

   Synonyms: beat, defeat, conquer, subjugate, vanquish

2. to overcome or overwhelm in feeling; affect or impress excessively:

   overpowered with confusion and desire.

3. to gain mastery over the bodily powers or mental faculties of:

   a strong drink that quickly overpowered him.

4. to furnish or equip with excessive power: pow: power:

   a giant motor that overpowered the pump.

overpower

/ ˌəʊvəˈpaʊə /

verb

1. to conquer or subdue by superior force
2. to have such a strong effect on as to make helpless or ineffective
3. to supply with more power than necessary

Other Words From

• uno·ver·powered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpower¹

First recorded in 1585–95; over- + power

Example Sentences

Shortly after, the rioters overpowered the officers and stormed into the building, chanting “treason” and “our house.”

From Washington Post

It’s a nice, calming effect — though one that can sometimes be overpowered by the tail noise.

From TechCrunch

The Great Falls resident overpowered the course to fire a tournament-record of 16-under-par 194, eclipsing the previous mark by eight shots at the par-70 layout and finishing five strokes ahead of Chase Nevins, a teammate at Langley.

From Washington Post

According to one conspirator, on a foggy night after the weapons had been loaded onto trucks, a group of men overpowered the shipment’s guards, who were gagged, bundled into a car and driven to a country house outside Moscow.

From Ozy

A middle school teacher in Sheboygan told me that kids were spending the whole day in the same classroom, and the smell of sanitizer was overpowering.

From ProPublica

And hearing how loud he would scream and overpower the microphone.

From The Daily Beast

But the statistic cannot overpower the emotional response to flying.

From The Daily Beast

There are moments the grim metal can overpower the sleazy pop charm of early material.

From The Daily Beast

Enough smarts to speak before the cameras, but not so much smarts that you overpower your husband.

From The Daily Beast

Blake Gopnik takes a stroll and wonders whether the technology will overpower the art.

From The Daily Beast

A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it.

From Project Gutenberg

The moment he raised his war-cry, they would overpower the soldiers, and then the castle would offer no resistance.

From Project Gutenberg

A marine sufficient to overpower that of Spain must be, not merely equipped and manned, but created.

From Project Gutenberg

There was in her so much of impulsive generosity that he had expected to overpower her scruples.

From Project Gutenberg

But as yet this faction was not strong enough to overpower him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blank
• clobber
• conquer
• crush
• defeat
• drub
• knock out
• overcome
• overwhelm
• rout
• smash
• subdue
• take care of
• trounce
• vanquish