overweening
adjective
over·ween·ing ˌō-vər-ˈwē-niŋ 
1
: arrogant, presumptuous
2
: immoderate, exaggerated
overweeningly adverb
Did you know?
The overweening conceit which the greater part of men have of their own abilities is an ancient evil remarked by the philosophers and moralists of all ages. So wrote Adam Smith in his The Wealth of Nations. But while overweening conceit might be an age-old evil, the word overweening has only been part of English since the 14th century. It developed from the Middle English overwening, the present participle of the verb overwenen, which meant "to be arrogant." That term derived in turn from wenen, which meant "to think" or "to imagine." Today, the adjective overweening is the most widely used of the wenen descendants, but historical texts also occasionally include overween, a term for thinking too highly of your own opinion.
Synonyms
- assured
- biggety [Southern & Midland]
- biggity
- bigheaded
- complacent
- conceited
- consequential
- egoistic
- egoistical
- egotistic
- egotistical
- important
- pompous
- prideful
- proud
- self-conceited
- self-important
- self-opinionated
- self-satisfied
- smug
- stuck-up
- swellheaded
- vain
- vainglorious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism overweening desire for wealth and fame
Recent Examples on the Web At the federal level, the Justices have been active in striking down overweening regulations on political expression. 
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 The system in Baghdad, of course, is a legacy of both American invasion and occupation and the overweening Iranian influence that found its way into the corridors of power after the removal of dictator Saddam Hussein. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 In this Argentine-Spanish co-production, Banderas plays Félix Rivero, an international movie star who places himself under the orders of Lola Cuevas (Cruz), an overweening independent director. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 The only development has been the placement of a wooden plank in the ground, creating a fence that is as narrow as the property and as overweening as the reach of property rights in New York City. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 24 June 2022 The biggest concern in Beijing, and what could ignite a new round of Chinese preparedness, is its perpetual paranoia combined with overweening ambition to be considered a major power, especially in its own backyard. David A. Andelman, CNN, 24 May 2022 But there’s no real idea of the character beyond an overweening shamelessness. New York Times, 12 Apr. 2022 In the post–World War II conservative coalition, classical liberals and social conservatives united in opposition to big government because it was believed that an overweening government was a threat both to freedom and to traditional values. Rich Lowry, National Review, 18 Feb. 2022 The Big Short was his overweening, unintelligible reaction to the 2008 recession. Armond White, National Review, 12 Jan. 2022 See More
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 The system in Baghdad, of course, is a legacy of both American invasion and occupation and the overweening Iranian influence that found its way into the corridors of power after the removal of dictator Saddam Hussein. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 In this Argentine-Spanish co-production, Banderas plays Félix Rivero, an international movie star who places himself under the orders of Lola Cuevas (Cruz), an overweening independent director. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 The only development has been the placement of a wooden plank in the ground, creating a fence that is as narrow as the property and as overweening as the reach of property rights in New York City. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 24 June 2022 The biggest concern in Beijing, and what could ignite a new round of Chinese preparedness, is its perpetual paranoia combined with overweening ambition to be considered a major power, especially in its own backyard. David A. Andelman, CNN, 24 May 2022 But there’s no real idea of the character beyond an overweening shamelessness. New York Times, 12 Apr. 2022 In the post–World War II conservative coalition, classical liberals and social conservatives united in opposition to big government because it was believed that an overweening government was a threat both to freedom and to traditional values. Rich Lowry, National Review, 18 Feb. 2022 The Big Short was his overweening, unintelligible reaction to the 2008 recession. Armond White, National Review, 12 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English overwening, present participle of overwenen to be arrogant, from over + wenen to ween
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
overweening
adjective
1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- smug
- arrogant
- vainglorious
- domineering
- proud
- vain
- egotistic
- pompous
- selfish
- conceited
- egoistic
- egotistical
- bigheaded
- complacent
- prideful
- self-important
- egoistical
- self-satisfied
- swaggering
- important
- self-conceited
- confident
- swellheaded
- consequential
- bumptious
- cavalier
- biggety
- haughty
- supercilious
- boastful
- bombastic
- stuck-up
- snobbish
- blusterous
- cocky
- uppity
- self-opinionated
- braggart
- assured
- snooty
- bragging
- overconfident
- imperious
- lordly
- superior
- pontifical
- disdainful
- snobby
- blustery
- assumptive
- biggity
- pretentious
- chesty
- uppish
- masterful
- braggy
- presuming
- huffy
- high-and-mighty
- presumptuous
- peremptory
- patronizing
- high-handed
- condescending
- self-asserting
- hifalutin
- highfalutin
- toplofty
- self-assertive
- lofty
- holier-than-thou
- self-contented
- self-glorifying
- self-dramatizing
- self-congratulatory
- self-centered
- self-confident
- toploftical
- self-assured
- fastuous
- self-promoting
- high-hat
- self-engrossed
- self-adulatory
- self-gratulatory
- self-applauding
- self-affected
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- diffident
- egoless
- timid
- meek
- unassertive
- uncomplacent
- self-doubting
- shrinking
- unassuming
- sheepish
- bashful
- unpretentious
- self-critical
- self-reproving
- self-distrustful
- introverted
- mousy
- self-reproachful
- shy
- overmodest
- demure
- mousey
- retiring
- unarrogant
- down-to-earth
2
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount overweening desire for wealth and fame Synonyms & Similar Words
- excessive
- extreme
- extravagant
- insane
- steep
- undue
- inordinate
- infinite
- lavish
- immoderate
- endless
- baroque
- exorbitant
- intolerable
- overmuch
- towering
- fancy
- unmerciful
- unconscionable
- unbearable
- devilish
- plethoric
- overextravagant
- inappropriate
- boundless
- over the top
- overdue
- stiff
- improper
- unwarranted
- limitless
- immeasurable
- a bit much
- unjustifiable
- unseemly
- unrestrained
- thick
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reasonable
- inadequate
- moderate
- modest
- insufficient
- middling
- deficient
- minimal
- temperate
- minimum
3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude an overweening administrator who simply doesn't know how to manage people Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- cavalier
- superior
- domineering
- bumptious
- supercilious
- haughty
- dominant
- pompous
- uppity
- imperious
- smug
- sniffy
- authoritarian
- pretentious
- lordly
- important
- assumptive
- presuming
- chesty
- masterful
- dominating
- presumptuous
- uppish
- hifalutin
- huffy
- high-and-mighty
- high-handed
- peremptory
- highfalutin
- toplofty
- self-asserting
- patronizing
- self-assertive
- lofty
- impudent
- magisterial
- proud
- hubristic
- huffish
- vainglorious
- toploftical
- condescending
- swaggering
- bossy
- narcissistic
- pontifical
- stiff-necked
- boastful
- snobbish
- egocentric
- high-hat
- bombastic
- pontificating
- disdainful
- snooty
- egotistic
- cocky
- blusterous
- conceited
- bragging
- snobby
- impertinent
- braggart
- saucy
- vain
- egotistical
- egoistic
- complacent
- blustery
- uninhibited
- prideful
- egoistical
- self-complacent
- self-satisfied
- immodest
- self-centered
- self-conceited
- self-flattering
- brash
- unreserved
- extroverted
- braggy
- stuck-up
- self-loving
- self-promoting
- orgulous
- self-affected
- self-applauding
- self-pleased
- extraverted
- forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- lowly
- timid
- diffident
- shrinking
- unpretentious
- sheepish
- bashful
- subdued
- acquiescent
- deferential
- mousy
- introverted
- shy
- passive
- demure
- meek
- submissive
- unassertive
- unarrogant
- unassuming
- self-doubting
- unaggressive
- yielding
- unobtrusive
- compliant
- overmodest
- cringing
- cowering
- self-critical
- mousey
- quiet
- reserved
- retiring
4
as in inflated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds an overweening national pride that prompted its citizens to denigrate other countries Synonyms & Similar Words
- inflated
- exaggerated
- outsized
- overblown
- outsize
- bloated
- overdrawn
- hyperbolized
- enlarged
- overemphasized
- unreasonable
- overplayed
- stretched
- overstated
- grandiose
- overdone
- elaborated
- magnified
- padded
- embroidered
- unreal
- unrealistic
- embellished
- hyped-up
- preposterous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reasonable
- realistic