overbearing
/,ouvə'beəriɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering: Describes a person who asserts their authority or opinions in a way that is unpleasantly forceful, arrogant, and shows a lack of regard for others.
- Expecting unquestioning obedience: Characterized by a dictatorial manner that demands complete and immediate compliance.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- His overbearing attitude made it difficult for the team to voice their opinions.
- She found her new manager's overbearing nature to be very demoralizing.
- The overbearing regulations stifled creativity and innovation.
Advanced Usage
- "to be overbearing": to behave in a domineering manner.
- He can be overbearing in meetings, often interrupting others.
- "overbearing presence": a dominating influence or atmosphere created by someone.
- Despite his quiet voice, he had an overbearing presence in the room.
Variants and Related Words
- Overbearingly (adverb): In a domineering manner.
- He spoke overbearingly to his subordinates.
- Overbear (verb, less common): To dominate or overcome by superior force or influence. (Note: This is a separate verb form and not the primary target word "overbearing".)
Synonyms
- Domineering: Asserting one's will over another in an arrogant way.
- Imperious: Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.
- Authoritarian: Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
- Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Antonyms
- Humble: Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
- Meek: Quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.
- Unassuming: Not pretentious or arrogant; modest.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "An overbearing personality": A character trait marked by excessive bossiness or arrogance.
- His overbearing personality often led to conflicts with his peers.
- "Overbearing parent": A parent who exercises excessive control over their child.
- The novel explores the struggles of a teenager with an overbearing parent.
Adjective
- having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
- some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines
- haughty aristocrats
- his lordly manners were offensive
- walked with a prideful swagger
- very sniffy about breaches of etiquette
- his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air
- a more swaggering mood than usual- W.L.Shirer
- expecting unquestioning obedience
- the timid child of authoritarian parents
- insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter