Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense overpowers, present participle overpowering, past tense, past participle overpowered
1. verb
If you overpower someone, you manage to take hold of and keep hold of them, although they struggle a lot.
It took ten guardsmen to overpower him. [VERB noun]
The rebels were overpowered and arrested. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: overcome, master, overwhelm, overthrow More Synonyms of overpower
2. verb
If a feeling overpowers you, it suddenly affects you very strongly.
A sudden dizziness overpowered him. [VERB noun]
I was so overpowered by my guilt and my shame that I was unable to speak. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: overwhelm, overcome, bowl over [informal], stagger More Synonyms of overpower
3. verb
In a sports match, when one team or player overpowers the other, they play much better than them and beat them easily.
His team overpowered Scotland 38–18. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If something such as a colour or flavour overpowers another colour or flavour, it is so strong that it makes the second one less noticeable.
On fair skin, pale shades are delicate enough not to overpower your colouring. [VERB noun]
Vegetables such as peppers can overpower the flavor of the stock. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of overpower
overpower in British English
(ˌəʊvəˈpaʊə)
verb(transitive)
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
overpower in American English
(ˌoʊvərˈpaʊər)
verb transitive
1.
to get the better of by superior power; make helpless; subdue; overwhelm
2.
to supply with more power than is needed
Derived forms
overpowering (ˌoverˈpowering)
adjective
overpoweringly (ˌoverˈpoweringly)
adverb
Examples of 'overpower' in a sentence
overpower
It can easily be overpowered and is best paired with subtle, light ingredients that can provide relief from the robust and powerful flavours of autumn.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Mix hazelnut oil with other oils to extend its use and so as not to overpower other flavours.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
People at work in any organisation face a panoply of forces to overpower the urge to be civil.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The protection effect may overpower the encouragement effect when citizens are optimistic and vice versa when citizens are pessimistic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Only one should be the star, otherwise the effect is too overpowering.
The Sun (2012)
Pepper or spice shouldn't overpower the smoky flavour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It does not need overpowering with strong flavours, although it can handle them well enough.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
Finally catching hold of Loki, he overpowered him and forced him to relinquish the stolen gold.
Barrett, Clive The Gods of Asgard (1989)
I can still see the frost patterns on my bedroom window and remember the overpowering feeling of not wanting to lift my leg from under the sheet.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
overpower
British English: overpower VERB
If you overpower someone, you manage to take hold of and keep hold of them, although they struggle a lot.
It took ten guardsmen to overpower him.
American English: overpower
Brazilian Portuguese: subjugar
Chinese: 制服
European Spanish: dominar
French: maîtriser
German: überwältigen
Italian: sopraffare
Japanese: 取り押さえる
Korean: 제압하다
European Portuguese: subjugar
Latin American Spanish: dominar
Chinese translation of 'overpower'
overpower
(əuvəˈpauəʳ)
vt
(physically)
[thief, assailant]制服 (zhìfú)
[team, opponent]打败(敗) (dǎbài)
1 (verb)
Definition
to conquer or subdue (someone) by superior force
It took four police officers to overpower him.
Synonyms
overcome
the satisfaction of overcoming a rival
master
She needs to master her fears of becoming ill.
overwhelm
overthrow
The government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.
subdue
They admit they have not been able to subdue the rebels.
quell
Troops eventually quelled the unrest.
get the better of
subjugate
Their costly attempt to subjugate the citizens lasted 10 years.
prevail over
immobilize
bring (someone) to their knees (informal)
render incapable
render powerless
render helpless
get the upper hand over
2 (verb)
Britain's tennis No.1 yesterday overpowered his American rival.
Synonyms
defeat
His troops defeated the opposing army.
beat
He was easily beaten into third place.
tank (slang)
crush
The military operation was the first step in a plan to crush the uprising.
lick (informal)
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
triumph over
best
clobber (slang)
stuff (slang)
vanquish
a happy ending in which the hero vanquishes the monsters
be victorious (over)
wipe the floor with (informal)
make mincemeat of (informal)
worst
3 (verb)
Definition
to have such a strong effect on (someone) as to make him or her helpless or ineffective
I was so overpowered by shame that I was unable to speak.
Synonyms
overwhelm
He was overwhelmed by a longing for times past.
overcome
I don't know what to say! I'm quite overcome.
bowl over (informal)
stagger
The whole thing staggers me.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beat
Definition
to overcome or defeat
He was easily beaten into third place.
Synonyms
defeat,
outdo,
trounce,
overcome,
stuff (slang),
master,
tank (slang),
crush,
overwhelm,
conquer,
lick (informal),
undo,
subdue,
excel,
surpass,
overpower,
outstrip,
clobber (slang),
vanquish,
outrun,
subjugate,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
knock spots off (informal),
make mincemeat of (informal),
pip at the post,
outplay,
blow out of the water (slang),
put in the shade (informal),
bring to their knees
in the sense of best
Definition
to defeat
Synonyms
defeat,
beat,
stuff (slang),
master,
tank (slang),
conquer,
thrash,
lick (informal),
undo,
surpass,
triumph over,
outdo,
get the better of,
trounce,
outclass,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang),
put in the shade (informal)
in the sense of crush
Definition
to control or subdue by force
The military operation was the first step in a plan to crush the uprising.
Synonyms
overcome,
overwhelm,
put down,
subdue,
overpower,
quash,
quell,
extinguish,
stamp out,
vanquish (literary),
conquer
Nearby words of
overpower
overload
overlook
overly
overpower
overpowering
overrate
overreach
Synonyms of 'overpower'
overpower
Explore 'overpower' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lick
Definition
to defeat
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
Synonyms
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
best,
top,
stuff (slang),
tank (slang),
undo,
rout,
excel,
surpass,
outstrip,
outdo,
trounce,
clobber (slang),
vanquish,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
blow out of the water (slang)
in the sense of master
Definition
to overcome or defeat
She needs to master her fears of becoming ill.
Synonyms
overcome,
defeat,
suppress,
conquer,
check,
curb,
tame,
lick (informal),
subdue,
overpower,
quash,
quell,
triumph over,
bridle,
vanquish (literary),
subjugate
in the sense of overthrow
Definition
to defeat and replace (a ruler or government) by force
The government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.
Synonyms
defeat,
beat,
master,
overcome,
crush,
overwhelm,
conquer,
bring down,
oust,
lick (informal),
topple,
subdue,
rout,
overpower,
do away with,
depose,
trounce,
unseat,
vanquish (literary),
subjugate,
dethrone
in the sense of quell
Definition
to suppress (rebellion or unrest)
Troops eventually quelled the unrest.
Synonyms
suppress,
crush,
put down,
defeat,
overcome,
conquer,
subdue,
stifle,
overpower,
quash,
extinguish,
stamp out,
vanquish (literary),
squelch
in the sense of stagger
Definition
to amaze or shock (someone)
The whole thing staggers me.
Synonyms
astound,
amaze,
stun,
surprise,
shock,
shake,
overwhelm,
astonish,
confound,
take (someone) aback,
bowl over (informal),
stupefy,
strike (someone) dumb,
throw off balance,
give (someone) a shock,
dumbfound,
nonplus,
flabbergast (informal),
take (someone's) breath away
in the sense of subdue
Definition
to overcome and bring (a person or people) under control by persuasion or force
They admit they have not been able to subdue the rebels.
Synonyms
overcome,
defeat,
master,
break,
control,
discipline,
crush,
humble,
put down,
conquer,
tame,
overpower,
overrun,
trample,
quell,
triumph over,
get the better of,
vanquish (literary),
beat down,
get under control,
get the upper hand over,
gain ascendancy over
in the sense of subjugate
Definition
to bring (a group of people) under one's control
Their costly attempt to subjugate the citizens lasted 10 years.
Synonyms
conquer,
master,
overcome,
defeat,
crush,
suppress,
put down,
overthrow,
tame,
lick (informal),
subdue,
overpower,
quell,
rule over,
enslave,
vanquish (literary),
hold sway over,
bring to heel,
bring (someone) to their knees,
bring under the yoke
in the sense of vanquish
Definition
to defeat (someone) in a battle, contest, or argument
a happy ending in which the hero vanquishes the monsters