to overmaster
1
9.1
- verb
- /ˌoʊvərˈmɑːstər/
- Literature
:
dominar
- During the fierce storm, the wind seemed to overmaster the ship, throwing it off course.
Examples
-
She felt that the pressure of expectations could overmaster any hope she had of succeeding.
-
Small things have a way of overmastering the great.
-
Everything indicates that, rather than being overmastered by the play's ending, Titania enjoys the freedom offered by this resounding, unexpected pause in marital strife.
Academic text (1998) -
Unable to long contain such overmastering joy, she sprang up so that Corlinn had to step hastily back, nearly falling, unable to avoid her wet nose and dirty paws.
Fiction book (1994) -
He battled with the novel like a true writer, but in the long run, it beat him: he couldn't force the novel to stop, couldn't find the true course; the novel overmastered him.
Fiction book (1998) -
He asks whether (1) an individual's creativity depends on particular content mastery, (2) too much knowledge inhibits creativity, or (3) students might overmaster a domain and become trapped by a repertoire of reflexive beliefs and procedures.
Academic text (1993) -
His overwhelming emotions threatened to overmaster his ability to think clearly.
Synonyms
397
3.7
To take control of a place by force or to beat something hard like a fear
275
3.7
To have strong control over people or things
229
5.1
To be stronger or more successful and win in the end
42
4.0
Defeat someone or something completely using greater force
33
3.8
To use more strength to defeat and control a person or thing
21
9.2
To bring someone or something under control, often by force
8
5.8
To win against someone or something that tries to stop you
1
8.2
To make someone feel small or afraid by showing great power
Antonyms
How Overpowering
- Formal
21
9.2
- Literature
1
9.1
37
5.5
932
2.1
429
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
overmaster = master (transparent) = over + master
The verb is a direct, productive combination of the prefix 'over-' and the verb 'master', yielding the sense 'to overpower' which follows regular English word-formation.
Etymology
The word overmaster comes from the parts over- meaning 'above' or 'too much' and master meaning 'to control', the same word as the familiar master. So, to overmaster someone is to 'get above' them in power and completely overpower or control them.