OVERALL Synonyms: 216 Similar and Opposite Words

overall 1 of 2

adjective

ˌō-vər-ˈȯl

Definition of overall

as in general

belonging or relating to the whole the overall view seems to be that we're doing fine economically

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in broad

relating to the main elements and not to specific details there's an overall similarity in the looks of the models for that chain of clothing stores

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in prevailing

held by or applicable to a majority of the people the overall mind-set among the people in our town seems to be that any increase in taxes is bad

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overall

2 of 2

adverb

ˌō-vər-ˈȯl

as in collectively

with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time reduce the budget overall by 15 percent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mostly

for the most part overall, this is a good speech, but it could use a little humor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 overall

Adjective

This co-located layout uses internal space efficiently and reduces the overall volume of the core. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026 The Conference Board said last week that its overall consumer confidence index had dropped to its lowest level since January. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Adverb

The report’s authors said promise-keeping, more than promise-speed, seems to drive the purchase decision overall. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 Wednesday should remain mostly sunny overall, with a high near 86 degrees followed by unsettled weather Thursday. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overall

Adjective

Shelley served as the Warriors’ associate general counsel and director of business and legal affairs and risk management, and Vasquez was the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The Israel Defense Forces captured Hamas' head of general security during a raid in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

— Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of general

Adjective

Blakespear said the definition was broad enough to encompass a wide range of heavy industrial uses, including chemical, plastics and pesticide manufacturing and strip mining.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The e-commerce giant is preparing to launch its Prime Air service in Tracy as part of a broader expansion effort that will bring delivery drones to 500 cities and towns by the end of the year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of broad

Adjective

The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.

— Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of prevailing

Adverb

Details of the contract have been mostly kept secret, as both companies said the agreement contained confidential business information.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Decades later, buses helped desegregate schools, hauling Black and white children across the country’s racial divide, a controversial practice that has mostly ended.

— Jeff McMurray, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adjective

In 2022, Cuban founded Cost Plus Drugs, a website created to sell generic medication at a lower price than most large pharmacies.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
The key lesson for personal branding is to embrace distinctiveness, substance, and a unique voice, rather than conforming to generic professionalism.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of generic

Adverb

Kristen Fisher said families generally were told simply that there were some staffing changes at the facility.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Thematic methodologies have been one of the downfalls of contemporary museology (and art history) generally, a crisis of collective memory and the historical imagination overall.

— George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of generally

Browse Nearby Words

overages

overall

overambitious

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overall. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of overall

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

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