overbearing
Americanadjective
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domineering; dictatorial; haughtily or rudely arrogant.
-
of overwhelming or critical importance.
adjective
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domineering or dictatorial in manner or action
-
of particular or overriding importance or significance
Other Word Forms
- overbearingly adverb
- overbearingness noun
Etymology
Origin of overbearing
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The protagonist is named Tree Tremont, a phenomenal multiracial golfer with an overbearing black father, an attractive wife, two young children and a squeaky-clean public image.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Compared to the overbearing shelter system, which broke up friends, mandated sobriety, lacked privacy, prohibited pets, and offered insufficient storage, Gil wanted to have a light touch.
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
Last year we eliminated overbearing patient-monitoring rules for certain CAR-T therapies that were a barrier for drug developers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
"There's still time and maybe the English dominance won't be that overbearing."
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026
Yossarian was stunned by their overbearing vigor and zeal, by their practical, direct efficiency.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
