as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of
the principal overstepped her authority in ordering everyone to remain in the unheated school
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Recent Examples of overstepped
The lawsuit claims Trump overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Michigan election officials are demanding a list of people who received voter verification notices from the Antrim County clerk's office, saying county clerk Victoria Bishop overstepped her authority in sending them.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
To Quinn, the director overstepped.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
The White House has portrayed Boasberg as a biased judge who overstepped his authority.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Apr. 2026
Administration officials claim Boasberg is biased and overstepped his authority.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Trump overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify his tariffs.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the lower courts had overstepped and infringed on executive authority.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Though many in policy-making and legislative positions may have found his views repellant, that did not distract from bipartisan concern that the federal enforcement operation may have overstepped constitutional bounds.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 24 Jan. 2026
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Michigan election officials are demanding a list of people who received voter verification notices from the Antrim County clerk's office, saying county clerk Victoria Bishop overstepped her authority in sending them.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
To Quinn, the director overstepped.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
The White House has portrayed Boasberg as a biased judge who overstepped his authority.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Apr. 2026
Administration officials claim Boasberg is biased and overstepped his authority.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Trump overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify his tariffs.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the lower courts had overstepped and infringed on executive authority.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Though many in policy-making and legislative positions may have found his views repellant, that did not distract from bipartisan concern that the federal enforcement operation may have overstepped constitutional bounds.
—Odette Yousef, NPR, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overstepped
Verb
-
All of his last three efforts on Friday exceeded 49 feet.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Tracking put the domestic tally at somewhere between $65 and $70 million, and those expectations were far exceeded.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No other state has ever surpassed the $6-a-gallon mark.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The story’s most significant character, save Miranda herself, is Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who once toiled alongside Emily in the assistant trenches and finally surpassed her.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overstepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overstepped. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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