as in main
coming before all others in importance
a matter that should be given overmastering priority by the incoming administration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the student was overmastered by the stress of taking the college placement test and broke down crying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overmastering
Adjective
-
Three main risks should worry Congress, the courts and every American about the rapid rise of these markets.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026 -
Surges can sometimes indicate an underlying wiring issue or a problem with your main breaker.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dedicating one corner of the patio to a dense cluster of plants creates a lush focal point without overwhelming the rest of the space.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Critics are also worried about the building height overwhelming the area.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Finally, in overcoming this vexing moment, the two would establish a painterly repartee that altered the trajectory of their own work and, by extension, modern art.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But overcoming perceptions that lithium-ion battery technology is inherently dangerous has proven challenging, and developers sometimes fuel mistrust by dismissing residents’ concerns about fire, toxic threats and the industrialization of natural landscapes.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
House Republicans approved the resolution last month despite conservationists’ warnings that the move would lead to devastating pollution in one of the country’s last remaining wild areas.—
Todd Richmond,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Two tornadoes ripped through west Michigan on April 14, devastating a family dairy farm in Fenick, releasing hundreds of cows and leaving thousands without power.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Habeas petitions have become the predominant path for immigrants seeking release from detention.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Besides Paisley Park, the second most predominant setting in her life with Prince is Marbella, Spain.—
Darío Gael Blanco,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kaneland trailed 1-0 but Frey was dominant going into the sixth.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Seahawks leaned on a collective pass rush rather than one dominant star, finishing the season as one of the league’s more effective defensive fronts.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
By reducing interfacial resistance and suppressing the growth of lithium dendrites, the technology addresses a primary mechanical barrier to the commercial use of lithium metal anodes.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
-
First District voters will choose a Republican candidate in the May 5 primary election.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dhawan is considered one of India’s foremost filmmakers in the comedy genre.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
One of the nation's foremost civic reenactment organizations and historical societies, the Lexington Minute Men represent the original colonial militia who fought in the first battle of the American Revolution.—
Eric Fisher,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Overmastering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overmastering. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
