overbear

[ oh-ver-bair ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·bore, o·ver·borne, o·ver·bear·ing.

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)

, o·ver·bore, o·ver·borne, o·ver·bear·ing.

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 Words From

• over·bearer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overbear¹

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

Example Sentences

Of course, part of the pleasure of any izakaya, even a fancy one like Tsubaki, correlates strongly with the potential to overbear your digestive system with sake-sopping fried foods.

From Los Angeles Times

Wind turbines can overbear each other, too.

From Nature

Saul, Saul, is it not enough that thou didst allow the selfish greed whether of thyself or of thy people to overbear the Divine command?

From Project Gutenberg

The forbidding faces are Fates to overbear and blemish true fellowship.

From Project Gutenberg

When man is unprejudiced, and his passions subject to reason, it is well he should define the limits of power, so that the waves driven by the storm of passion shall not overbear the shore.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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