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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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 Kaprizov and Hartman scored in the third period as Minnesota overcame a 3-1 deficit to force overtime. — CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Craig overcame being sacked four times and the run game producing just 33 yards to lead TCU to the massive victory, as the Horned Frogs scored multiple touchdowns against a Power Four conference opponent for the first time this season. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 Joe Jackson ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Avery Johnson threw for 203 yards and another score, and the Wildcats overcame a multitude of mistakes while rallying from an early 10-point hole to keep nearly two decades of dominance going. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 In Game 1, the Rays had a lead, and the Guardians overcame the deficit late in the game. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Dream star Allisha Gray is considered questionable with a hand injury, but the team overcame that in Game 2 … and no team has ever lost a five-game series after taking a 2-0 lead. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 But Reed will remember it for the surreal feeling that overcame him in CU’s gymnasium. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026 The Broncos, meanwhile, overcame a Week 1 loss to remain competitive, but have fallen behind the Chiefs and Raiders in the AFC West. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overcame

Verb

In 2026, Keiko Fujimori narrowly defeated a left-wing candidate to win the Peruvian presidency, while most recently, in Colombia, conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella bested left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda.

— David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Since Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, the Panthers have defeated their division rivals just once in the past seven meetings, including Carolina’s 43-13 blowout loss at home Sunday.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

Following Stark’s rescue, the first responders at Paradise Canyon Drive were overwhelmed, according to two civilians who were present and Hernandez’s body-camera footage.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Swain settled in this preseason, showing an improved progression in his decision making when he was not overwhelmed by on-ball duties.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of overwhelmed

Verb

Miller—who is no stranger to extramarital tabloid scandals herself—has also mastered her getting-cheated-on performances.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
Bloomberg Philanthropies says the West Coast city has mastered the art of faster building applications.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of mastered

Verb

Iran’s military has been devastated by American attacks, but the Iranian forces have continued to launch missiles, drones and naval operations to inflict damage in the region.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
At home, the United States had defeated their armies, destroyed their infrastructure, retaken their territory, emancipated their enslaved, and devastated their economy and society into a catastrophic mess.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of devastated

Verb

From Ricky Martin’s Grammy breakthrough to the rise of música mexicana, Tommy Mottola and Alex Gallardo offered a candid look at how Latin music conquered the mainstream — and why its next evolution will depend on artists willing to break the mold.

— Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
The announcement comes after a summer in which AI models have repeatedly conquered many of math’s longstanding open challenges, including one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems.

— Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of conquered

Verb

Drew Doughty had a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin added a power-play goal and an assist as the Kings beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
In a shocking upset, a student movement resoundingly beat longtime Serbian leader President Aleksandar Vucic, ending his time in power after 14 years.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of beat

Verb

To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of got

Browse Nearby Words

overburdens

overcame

overcareful

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“Overcame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overcame. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of overcame

verb

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