OVERCAME Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

overcame

verb

past tense of overcome

as in defeated

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in overwhelmed

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

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 overcame Kittredge wisely includes testimonials from many below-the-line crew who speak openly of pride in the movie’s ambitions but also how quickly damage control overcame everything. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Direct internal heating Stanford researchers overcame this challenge by developing an internal heating method. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Democrats' oldest senator overcame pressure for a generational change in the Massachusetts Senate primary. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Booker, meanwhile, overcame several other Democratic challengers in his primary, buoyed by his higher name recognition and his clear progressive stances. — Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 31 Aug. 2026 As members of his family left the quad, emotion overcame several. — Pj Green august 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 Ethan Pecko overcame a laborious first inning to earn his first big league win. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 The sophomore overcame a sluggish first half and finished 22 of 39 passing for 287 yards and two touchdowns, none more dramatic and needed than the 22-yard game winner to Laviel Pickett with 27 seconds left to play. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Joan Rubinger overcame a catastrophic biking accident that left her paralyzed to become an influential pain-relief specialist helping top-tier athletes get back on the field after acute and chronic injuries. — Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcame

Verb

Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

Reflecting on her journey, Jones told me last year that her best career advice is to stay open to new experiences and not get overwhelmed by distant goals.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelmed

Verb

Jon Batiste is one of the most interesting contemporary musicians out there, a musical prodigy who began performing at age 8 and has mastered multiple instruments.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Kids can try the sheet again and again until the facts are mastered.

— Nicole Harris, Parents, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mastered

Verb

The ancient creature’s paddle-like abdominal limbs provide direct fossil evidence that insects conquered land through a prolonged semi-aquatic phase rather than an abrupt transition.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
That album conquered several rankings and missed out on ruling the Billboard 200 by only one rung.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of conquered

Verb

Round 8 saw Itauma unleash a salvo of punches on Hrgović, who took them well.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The Falcons took a lengthy look at their starters and survived a second-half push to earn a 17-12 victory over the Dolphins on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of took

Verb

She had been beaten and stabbed inside her home, and her body was then placed in the trunk of her car.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of beat

Verb

When the islanders first got their phones back while in Fiji, Melanie had a video call with her sister in an unseen clip.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
The San Francisco 49ers got creative in managing some tough cuts Sunday afternoon to get down to a 53-man roster, letting go of their punter and long snapper.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of got

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overburdens

overcame

overcareful

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

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Synonyms of overcame

verb

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