Overpowering — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˌō-vər-ˈpau̇(-ə)r/ over·pow·er

Meaning & Definition of Overpowering

Overpowering (verb)

  1. to overcome by superior force, subdue
  2. to affect with overwhelming intensity
  3. to provide with more power than is needed or desirable

Overpowering (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control

    "the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II"

    similar: conquest, dominating, domination, subduing, subjecting, subjection, subjugating, subjugation, vanquishing
    related: triumph, victory, win, winning, beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping, enslavement, takeover
    near: emancipation, enfranchisement, freeing, liberation, manumission, release

Overpowering (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in overwhelming, irresistible

    similar: irresistible, overwhelming, catching, contagious, epidemic, infectious, spreading, palpable, perceptible, tangible, disarming, endearing, fetching, inviting, winning, winsome

Overpowering (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring under one's control by force of arms

    "the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed"

    similar: conquering, dominating, pacifying, subduing, subjecting, subjugating, subordinating, vanquishing
    related: annihilating, beating, clobbering, crushing, defeating, drubbing, licking, mowing (down), overcoming, prevailing (over), reducing, routing, skunking, smashing, thrashing, triumphing (over), trouncing, walloping, whipping, enslaving, breaking, clamping down (on), cracking down (on), putting down, quashing, quelling, repressing, silencing, smothering, snuffing (out), squashing, squelching, suppressing
    near: discharging, emancipating, enfranchising, freeing, liberating, manumitting, releasing, springing, unbinding, uncaging, unchaining, unfettering

  2. to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

    "overpowered by fear of the unknown"

    similar: crushing, devastating, flooring, grinding (down), oppressing, overcoming, overmastering, overwhelming, prostrating, snowing under, swamping, whelming
    related: deluging, drowning, sinking, confuting, defeating, refuting, breaking, demoralizing, distressing, disturbing, rocking, shattering, staggering, throwing, unmanning, unnerving, upsetting

Related Entry: Overpower (verb)

Overpower is a different word from Overpowering. The synonyms below are for overpower, not for overpowering.

  1. to bring under one's control by force of arms

    "the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed"

    similar: conquer, dominate, pacify, subdue, subject, subjugate, subordinate, vanquish
    related: annihilate, beat, clobber, crush, defeat, drub, lick, mow (down), overcome, prevail (over), reduce, rout, skunk, smash, thrash, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, enslave, break, clamp down (on), crack down (on), put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, smother, snuff (out), squash, squelch, suppress
    near: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, release, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

  2. to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

    "overpowered by fear of the unknown"

    similar: crush, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overwhelm, prostrate, snow under, swamp, whelm
    related: deluge, drown, sink, confute, defeat, refute, break, demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Overpowering

The most common words with a similar meaning to Overpowering:

conquest, dominating, domination, subduing, subjecting, subjection, subjugating, subjugation, vanquishing, irresistible, overwhelming, catching, contagious, epidemic, infectious, spreading, palpable, perceptible, tangible, disarming, endearing, fetching, inviting, winning, winsome, conquering, pacifying, subordinating, crushing, devastating, flooring, grinding (down), oppressing, overcoming, overmastering, prostrating, snowing under, swamping, whelming

Related Words for Overpowering

triumph, victory, win, beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping, enslavement, takeover, annihilating, clobbering, defeating, mowing (down), prevailing (over), reducing, routing, skunking, smashing, thrashing, triumphing (over), walloping, enslaving, breaking, clamping down (on), cracking down (on), putting down

Near Antonyms of Overpowering

emancipation, enfranchisement, freeing, liberation, manumission, release, discharging, emancipating, enfranchising, liberating, manumitting, releasing, springing, unbinding, uncaging, unchaining, unfettering

Word Forms of Overpowering

Inflections: overpowered, overpowers

Derived words: overpoweringly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Overpowering

First known use: 1597

Frequently Asked Questions about Overpowering

What does "Overpowering" mean?

"Overpowering" means to overcome by superior force, subdue. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to overcome by superior force, subdue. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Overpowering"?

Other words for "Overpowering" include conquest, dominating, domination, subduing, subjecting, subjection, subjugating and subjugation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Overpowering" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Overpowering"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Overpowering". Common alternatives include conquest, dominating, domination, subduing, subjecting, subjection, subjugating, subjugation, vanquishing and irresistible.

How do you use "Overpowering" in a sentence?

Examples of "Overpowering" in a sentence: "the overpowering of much of Europe by the Nazis during World War II"; "the invading army overpowered the countryside with lightning speed"; "overpowered by fear of the unknown".

Is "Overpowering" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Overpowering" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Overpowering"?

"Overpowering" is pronounced /ˌō-vər-ˈpau̇(-ə)r/ and divided into syllables as over·pow·er.

What is the origin of the word "Overpowering"?

First known use: 1597.

What is another word for "Overpowering" meaning "the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control"?

When "Overpowering" (noun) means the act or process of bringing someone or something under one's control, synonyms include conquest, dominating, domination, subduing, subjecting and subjection.