overbear

[ oh-ver-bair ]
See synonyms for: overbearoverbearing on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to prevail over or overrule (wishes, objections, etc.): She overbore all objections to the new plan.

  2. to treat in a domineering way; dominate: to overbear one's children with threats of violence.

  3. 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.

Origin of overbear

1
First recorded in 1525–35; over- + bear1

Other words from overbear

  • o·ver·bear·er, noun

Words Nearby overbear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overbear in a sentence

  • Vine variable in vigor, productive, healthy, often inclined to overbear.

    The Grapes of New York | U. P. Hedrick

British Dictionary definitions for overbear

overbear

/ (ˌəʊvəˈbɛə) /


verb-bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne
  1. (tr) to dominate or overcome: to overbear objections

  2. (tr) to press or bear down with weight or physical force

  1. to produce or bear (fruit, progeny, etc) excessively

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012