overbearing

adjective

over·​bear·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈber-iŋ How to pronounce overbearing (audio)
1
a
: tending to overwhelm : overpowering
had to deal with his overbearing mother
b
: decisively important : dominant
didn't think it was the overbearing consideration hereJ. S. Cooper
2
: harshly and haughtily arrogant
the mayor's overbearing manner of dealing with employees
overbearingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for overbearing

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of overbearing in a Sentence

He had to deal with his overbearing mother. Her husband's overbearing manner made her miserable.
Recent Examples on the Web But the Hong Kong system is fast disappearing under the overbearing power and influence of the Communist Chinese. Charles Kesler, National Review, 20 June 2024 But Budds conducted hundreds of interviews that shaped his abiding view of Landis as an arrogant, overbearing filmmaker who had demanded a big special-effects spectacle in hopes of outshining his more famous peers, like Steven Spielberg. Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2024 His days consist of singing in a men’s choir, chatting on the phone with his overbearing daughter Sonja (Harpa Elísa Þórsdóttir), owning a restaurant in his sleepy village and returning to the sad, silent sanctity of an empty home. Courtney Howard, Variety, 14 June 2024 Ignacio Diaz-Silverio starred as 16-year-old Rafa Gonzales, who was being raised by his mother and five overbearing uncles. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for overbearing 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overbearing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of overbearing was in 1614

Dictionary Entries Near overbearing

Cite this Entry

“Overbearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overbearing. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

overbearing

adjective
over·​bear·​ing
-ˈba(ə)r-iŋ,
-ˈbe(ə)r-
overbearingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on overbearing

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