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overarching

overarching

17 5.9
Including all parts of something
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərˈɑːrʧɪŋ/
translation icon : global
  • American officials' overarching worldwide objective in the early 1950s was to prevent any communist gains.
  • overarching goal
  • overarching theme
  • overarching purpose

Which brings us to the overarching theme of this testing thermals.

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Examples

  • The summer program coordinator should choose an overarching theme based on a popular children's movie or topic.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In this setting, music specialists must involve themselves in attaining the overarching goals of schooling.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And you know, what is the overall or overarching point to the book?

  • But is it a major overarching concern in our high school?

  • But my overarching goal and perspective is to be.

  • The United States and Japan have lost sight of their relationship's overarching purpose.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Four overarching issues emerged from the research as areas for possible improvements at work.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Look, my overarching message here is things don't have to be this way.

  • Globalization is "the overarching international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of virtually every country."

    Academic text (2000)
  • The company established an overarching strategy to improve efficiency across all departments.

Synonyms

overall
vsoverarching
616 3.1

Including all parts to give a general view

is closer to total inclusion but less formal in feel
broad
vsoverarching
469 3.7

General and not detailed, covering many things

is more strictly about complete inclusion rather than generality
extensive
vsoverarching
330 4.1

Large in amount, range, or area

is more about including everything comprehensively rather than size
comprehensive
vsoverarching
298 4.6

Covering almost everything to give a complete and detailed view

focuses on broad coverage rather than thoroughness of detail
sweeping
vsoverarching
26 4.8

Covering a large area or affecting many things

is more about full inclusion than just wide effect
wide-ranging
vsoverarching
23 4.1

Covering many different subjects or areas

is broader, implying full inclusion rather than many topics
across-the-board
vsoverarching
15 4.4

Affecting everyone or everything in a group in the same way

is broader, implying complete coverage beyond group application
all-encompassing
vsoverarching
12 6.0

Including everything and everyone in a single plan

is the broad idea of complete and total coverage
all-embracing
vsoverarching
1 4.6

Including everything or everyone without leaving anything out

expresses the same total inclusion in simpler terms
panoptic
vsoverarching
  • Formal
1 9.6

Showing everything in one complete view

is similar but used more practically for full coverage
encompassing
vsoverarching
6.0

Including many different people, ideas, or things

is the same inclusive sense but used more generally

Antonyms

3.9

Clearly defined and exact for a particular thing or person

181 2.6

Limited in range or what it covers, often about ideas

How Comprehensive

overarching
17 5.9
comprehensive
298 4.6
broad
469 3.7
narrow
181 2.6

Surface Forms

overarching positive

Morphology

overarching = overarch (transparent) = overarch + ing

Formed by adding the participial/adjectival suffix '-ing' to the verb 'overarch', yielding a predictable adjectival sense 'covering or inclusive'.

Etymology

Overarching comes from over- meaning 'above' and arch meaning 'bend' or 'curve', like an archway that stretches over a path. So, something overarching is like that arch — it 'covers' or 'includes' everything beneath it.