overbear

[ oh-ver-bair ]

verb (used with object)

overbore, overborne, overbearing.

1. to bear over or down by weight or force:

   With his superior strength he easily overbore his opponent in the fight.

2. to overcome or overwhelm:

   A spirited defense had overborne the enemy attack.

3. to prevail over or overrule (wishes, objections, etc.):

   She overbore all objections to the new plan.

4. to treat in a domineering way; dominate:

   to overbear one's children with threats of violence.

5. Nautical. (of a sailing ship) to have the advantage of (another sailing ship) because of an ability to carry more canvas safely.

verb (used without object)

overbore, overborne, overbearing.

1. to produce fruit or progeny so abundantly as to impair the health.

overbear

/ ˌəʊvəˈbɛə /

verb

1. tr to dominate or overcome

   to overbear objections

2. tr to press or bear down with weight or physical force
3. to produce or bear (fruit, progeny, etc) excessively

Other Word Forms

• over·bearer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overbear¹

First recorded in 1525–35; over- + bear ¹

Example Sentences

New Zealand's commerce minister Andrew Bayly has resigned as a government minister after he "placed a hand" on a staff member's upper arm last week, in what he described as "overbearing" behaviour.

From BBC

The show sees Lucy Punch reprise her role as Amanda, the overbearing and competitive mother who was a viewer favourite in the original series.

From BBC

Watts was "obsessed" with Sansom, but it was not a case of "one person's will being overborne by another", the judge added.

From BBC

His father, Dave, was a salesman who never recovered from the Great Depression; the breadwinner was his mother, Rhoda, a fashion sketch artist whose overbearing nature left track marks on his psyche.

From Los Angeles Times

Henry is overprotective while Mary is overbearing and suffering from artist’s block.

From Salon

Related Words

• bludgeon
• browbeat
• coerce
• harass
• hector
• oppress
• persecute
• terrorize
• threaten
• torment
• torture