overweening

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈwē-niŋ How to pronounce overweening (audio)
Definition of overweeningnext
1
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself a director who has little patience for overweening actors who think they are above taking advice and criticism

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount overweening desire for wealth and fame

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3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude an overweening administrator who simply doesn't know how to manage people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inflated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds an overweening national pride that prompted its citizens to denigrate other countries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 overweening That experience left me with an indelible lesson about the overweening willpower that carried otherwise ordinary men to such heights, or depths, of achievement. — Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 Henry manages to put in a good, if overweening, performance at Web Horizons, going off-prompter to lament the lack of sincerity in modern life without bothering to relate it back to mobile banking. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Feb. 2026 Stage and screen director Maria Friedman focuses this story tightly on Frank (both figuratively and literally, on film), cursed with overwhelming talent and overweening ambition. — Gemma Wilson, Boston Herald, 5 Dec. 2025 Iraqi nationalism is the ultimate hedge against Iran’s overweening ambitions; no Iraqi wishes for his or her country to become a pawn of Iran. — Linda S. Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019 See All Example Sentences for overweening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overweening
  1. smug
  2. excessive
  3. arrogant
  4. inflated
  5. proud
  6. extreme
  7. superior
  8. exaggerated
Adjective
  • Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • However, Leo’s shadow can show up as a mix of defensiveness, entitlement or an excessive attachment to validation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • That said, a recent Europe-wide survey by EU-OSHA reveals that concerns about excessive heat are becoming increasingly universal, with one in five workers reporting unhealthy exposure to extreme temperatures and around one in eight to intense sun.
    — Oliver Balch, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • Odysseus is a complex character known for being brilliant and crafty, but also being somewhat of an arrogant trickster.
    — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • Under normal conditions, someone who’s bossy or pushy can come across as arrogant and annoying.
    — Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • The market for centers and forwards also became even more inflated because of the relative dearth of quality options.
    — Brendan Marks, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • Check the tires regularly with a gauge to ensure that they are evenly inflated.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 22 July 2026
Definition of inflated
Adjective
  • Like a proud zookeeper showing off the rarest specimen in his collection, Corsini rarely tries the same trick twice.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • Minetree, born the same year as the original film, embraces Elle's optimistic and hardworking spirit, admitting initial nervousness about the iconic role but ultimately feeling proud.
    — Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • Connecticut famers have been awaiting access to such relief after experiencing damages caused by disasters and extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • The filmmakers have conceived a world that is both funny and extreme, navigating themes of bodily autonomy for both males and females through the playful and the monstrous.
    — William Earl, Variety, 25 July 2026
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • The real race is for superior intelligence-production systems that transform scarce frontier capabilities into resilient, continuously improving national power.
    — John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • No one believed her, wanted to believe her, and/or wanted to cross a respected cop on track to be their superior officer someday.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 July 2026
Definition of superior
Adjective
  • Joseph’s team’s collection has a lot of interesting separates, including a cropped leather jacket from Naheim with exaggerated shoulders.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • Parental alienation is a dynamic that occurs when a child refuses to have a relationship with a parent due to manipulation by the other parent, such as by conveying of exaggerated or false information, as Psychology Today explains.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of exaggerated

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Cite this Entry

“Overweening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overweening. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of overweening for Spanish Speakers

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