OVERCOME Synonyms: 160 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'overcome' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer , defeat , overthrow , reduce , subdue , and vanquish . While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle. // overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

Q: When could 'conquer' be used to replace 'overcome'?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of. // Caesar conquered Gaul

Q: How are the words 'defeat' and 'vanquish' related as synonyms of 'overcome'?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals. // the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Q: When might 'overthrow' be a better fit than 'overcome'?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power. // violently overthrew the old regime

Q: When is it sensible to use 'reduce' instead of 'overcome'?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome , reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender. // the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Q: When can 'subdue' be used instead of 'overcome'?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression. // subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

Q: When would 'vanquish' be a good substitute for 'overcome'?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering. // vanquished the enemy and ended the war

overcome 1 of 2

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈkəm

Definition of overcome next

as in to defeat

to achieve a victory over the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to overwhelm

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family

Synonyms & Similar Words

overcome

2 of 2

adjective

as in uncovered

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overcome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When could conquer be used to replace overcome?

While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overcome?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

When might overthrow be a better fit than overcome?

Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overcome?

While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overcome?

The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When would vanquish be a good substitute for overcome?

The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

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 overcome

Verb

Even quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his rocket of an arm couldn’t overcome that gap in seven minutes. —

Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025 Wayzata could not overcome a pair of one-game deficits and immediately fell to the consolation bracket with a 3-2 (25-18, 17-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-10) loss to the Huskies. —

Jon Weisbrod, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025 Lily Rodriguez overcame an early season elbow injury and captured the 140-pound title with a 10-5 win over Brawley’s Aeisha Ortiz. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025 Making the playoffs and maybe even surprising in them would be Miami’s greatest statement of resolve and flex of Heat Culture — to have overcome the capital-D distraction and drama that might have detonated this season. —

Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for overcome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcome

Verb

Elsewhere in the league, Jimmy Butler made his Golden State Warriors debut, scoring 25 points to help his new team erase a 24-point third quarter deficit to defeat one of his former teams, the Chicago Bulls, 132-111.

— Issy Ronald and Jacob Lev, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
Netanyahu meanwhile is under heavy pressure from his far-right political allies to resume the war after the first phase so that Hamas, which carried out the deadliest attack on Israelis in their history, can be defeated.

— Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025