1
as in obscuring
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
large trees overshadow the yard and darken the house for much of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outweighing
to be greater in importance than
later you'll find that verbal skills overshadow any skills you have at video games
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of overshadowing
The intent is to help clients stay grounded and prepared as decisions progress, complementing the legal work without overshadowing it.
—
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
If Mountbatten-Windsor were to attend the couple would again risk headlines about a comeback from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal overshadowing the happy occasion.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Once known for her charisma and public appeal, Ferguson's past associations with Epstein are now overshadowing decades of public service.
—Lauryn Overhultz , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Anthrax ecology The bacteria that cause anthrax are forever associated with weapons that destroy people, overshadowing their ecologically complex role in animals and soils that sustain humanity.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Rising oil and gas prices from regional fighting become an urgent EU priority, overshadowing negotiations on Ukraine aid.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Some social media users thought the integration risked overshadowing the awards.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
People have the desire to evolve together, and get past the minor annoyances of a Gemini being too flighty for an intense Scorpio or a Leo’s dramatics overshadowing Taurus’s kindness.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Early fundraising disclosures highlight stark contrasts in Maryland’s competitive Democratic congressional primaries, with David Trone’s personal wealth overshadowing April McClain Delaney’s campaign while Kweisi Mfume maintains a strong cash advantage over challengers.
—Ben Mause, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2026
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
If Mountbatten-Windsor were to attend the couple would again risk headlines about a comeback from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal overshadowing the happy occasion.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Once known for her charisma and public appeal, Ferguson's past associations with Epstein are now overshadowing decades of public service.
—Lauryn Overhultz , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Anthrax ecology The bacteria that cause anthrax are forever associated with weapons that destroy people, overshadowing their ecologically complex role in animals and soils that sustain humanity.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Rising oil and gas prices from regional fighting become an urgent EU priority, overshadowing negotiations on Ukraine aid.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Some social media users thought the integration risked overshadowing the awards.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
People have the desire to evolve together, and get past the minor annoyances of a Gemini being too flighty for an intense Scorpio or a Leo’s dramatics overshadowing Taurus’s kindness.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Early fundraising disclosures highlight stark contrasts in Maryland’s competitive Democratic congressional primaries, with David Trone’s personal wealth overshadowing April McClain Delaney’s campaign while Kweisi Mfume maintains a strong cash advantage over challengers.
—Ben Mause, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overshadowing
Verb
-
The rise of high-frequency trading convinced us that everything is priced in instantly, obscuring pockets of friction.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Sheets appear to be covering the front cockpit window, obscuring what would normally be the pilots’ forward view.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the system was complicated and costly, with operation and maintenance expenses outweighing postage revenue by nearly a factor of three.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The universe is overrun with dark matter, outweighing the ordinary stuff that stars and planets are made of five-to-one.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, lighter colors act as a visual blurring agent.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Formed in Southern California in 2011, the group built its following on a genre-blurring sound that mixes alternative rock, indie pop and hip-hop influences, anchored by frontman Jesse Rutherford’s brooding vocals.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The image below shows the SLS freeing itself of Earth, hauling the Artemis 2 mission to the darkening skies above Florida.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This linen-blend pinch pleated option is light-filtering—in other words, not as dense as room-darkening curtains or blackout designs—and available in 38 colors, with curtain rings and rods sold separately.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overshadowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overshadowing. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
