as in protective
trying too hard to protect someone (such as a child) from danger
His overprotective mother won't let him go out after dark. He is overprotective of his little sister.
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Recent Examples of overprotective
The story follows a rough-around-the-edges man (Gyllenhaal) who ends up sharing an unwanted journey with his fiancée’s prickly, overprotective father (Costner) after a life-altering turn upends their plans.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Jeon-bok is overprotective of her beloved granddaughter, who lives life with a dangerous heart condition.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 15 May 2026
Pascal has a deep connection to The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola’s 1999 feature directorial debut, which stars Kirsten Dunst as Lux Lisbon—one of five sisters raised by overprotective Catholic parents.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The original 2003 Pixar movie, produced for Walt Disney Pictures, tells the story of an overprotective clownfish, Marlin, searching for his missing son, Nemo.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
After everything the children had gone through, their grandparents may have been a little overprotective.
—Libby Smith, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Wright plays the overprotective mother Laura Sanderson in the Amazon Prime series, The Girlfriend, who spirals when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) brings home his new mysterious girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke).
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Season 3 As Season 3 begins, Eleven and Mike are officially a couple and can't keep their hands off each other, upsetting an overprotective Hopper, who tries to break them up.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
In Seasons 2 and 3, Eleven and Hopper experience some friction due to Hopper’s overprotective concern for Eleven’s safety; by Season 4, the characters operate in totally separate storylines and don’t share a scene until the last minutes of the season finale.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Jeon-bok is overprotective of her beloved granddaughter, who lives life with a dangerous heart condition.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 15 May 2026
Pascal has a deep connection to The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola’s 1999 feature directorial debut, which stars Kirsten Dunst as Lux Lisbon—one of five sisters raised by overprotective Catholic parents.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The original 2003 Pixar movie, produced for Walt Disney Pictures, tells the story of an overprotective clownfish, Marlin, searching for his missing son, Nemo.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
After everything the children had gone through, their grandparents may have been a little overprotective.
—Libby Smith, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Wright plays the overprotective mother Laura Sanderson in the Amazon Prime series, The Girlfriend, who spirals when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) brings home his new mysterious girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke).
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Season 3 As Season 3 begins, Eleven and Mike are officially a couple and can't keep their hands off each other, upsetting an overprotective Hopper, who tries to break them up.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
In Seasons 2 and 3, Eleven and Hopper experience some friction due to Hopper’s overprotective concern for Eleven’s safety; by Season 4, the characters operate in totally separate storylines and don’t share a scene until the last minutes of the season finale.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overprotective
Adjective
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Frequent chlorine exposure strips hair of its natural protective oils, which can leave it weak and dry.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
20 May 2026
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The instructor then contacted child protective services, triggering the investigation.—
Joe Nelson,
Daily News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Overall, the series toned down Garrett’s possessive, over-protective tendencies while keeping true to his Big Man on Campus/hockey dynasty character.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Instead, Nikki’s love spirals into something violent, possessive and terrifying.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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To return the favor, Graham proposes a fake dating scheme with Wells to make her crush, singer Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston), jealous.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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At Williams’ trial, authorities said Williams was a jealous lover and often became enraged.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overprotective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overprotective. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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