overcome 1 of 2

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈkəm How to pronounce overcome (audio)
Definition of overcomenext
1
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family

Synonyms & Similar Words

overcome

2 of 2

adjective

as in uncovered

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overcome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When could conquer be used to replace overcome?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overcome?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When might overthrow be a better fit than overcome?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overcome?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overcome?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for overcome?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of overcome
Verb
The best way to overcome a year of disappointment is, of course, to challenge again, which is precisely the thought on Arteta’s mind. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 While reflecting on the special father-son moment, Broderick said his son overcame his nerves. —Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 29 May 2025 Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025 But he’s overcome a lot and has proven people wrong time and again. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overcome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcome
  1. defeat
  2. overwhelm
  3. uncovered
  4. conquer
  5. devastate
  6. master
  7. passive
  8. unsafe
Verb
  • Su-hun represents everything Mun-oh aspires to be, serving as both inspiration and source of secret envy that has left Mun-oh feeling perpetually defeated.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 May 2025
  • Florida is 48-15 on the season and defeated its conference foe, Georgia, in the Super Regional.
    — Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • For example, colorful hardware in a small kitchen with a lot of cabinets can overwhelm the space with visual clutter rather than color.
    — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
  • Almost immediately, the new facility was overwhelmed: Between the year of its founding and 1887, 44 percent of the women admitted into San Clemente were pellagrous.
    — Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
Definition of overwhelm
Adjective
  • But the third realm, the uncovered world of technology, is rising.
    — Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • One pitch later, Savannah Pola dropped down a bunt and, spotting an uncovered second base, the speedy second baseman turned it into a heads-up double.
    — Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
Definition of uncovered
Verb
  • Educate Yourself, And Be Prepared The very best way to conquer your business fear and build confidence as a leader is to do the work required to be at your best.
    — Michelle Mekky, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Putnam was always photographed with famous people: standing next to Charles Lindbergh, first man to fly solo across the Atlantic; posing with Commander Byrd, the man who conquered the South Pole; smiling with Howard Carter, the man who discovered King Tut.
    — / CBS News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
Definition of conquer
Verb
  • Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.
    — Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • The Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions Friday in a big first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country devastated by civil war.
    — Abby Sewell, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Definition of devastate
Verb
  • There’s a belief that merely mastering a posture that keeps the battle alive, even if the defender successfully wipes the hand away while simultaneously bringing more power to the punches that do connect, can shift those win-rate averages from league worst to something more manageable.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • Maron will portray Chuck Plotkin, the producer who painstakingly mastered Springsteen’s pivotal 1982 album Nebraska.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 2 June 2025
Definition of master
Adjective
  • It is not intended for remote workers or passive citizens.
    — Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth.
    — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 31 May 2025
Definition of passive
Adjective
  • And in low- and mid-income countries, US$110 billion is lost every year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food, per World Health Organization (WHO) data.
    — Danielle Nierenberg, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The driver accelerated away, making unsafe lane changes and weaving in and out of traffic, the trooper's report said.
    — Madison Lambert, NBC news, 6 June 2025
Definition of unsafe

Browse Nearby Words

overcoats
overcome
overcomes
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Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcome. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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