1
as in thwarting
to get the better of through cleverness
a real estate developer who is always trying to overreach his competitors, fair means or foul
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in exceeding
to go beyond the limit of
the mountain climbers overreached their abilities and paid for it dearly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overreaching
The rescission process under the Impoundment Control Act was created in response to an overreaching executive branch in the 1970s, and it should be used today to keep the spending power in Congress.
—
The Editors, National Review, 10 Mar. 2025
Setting aside the fact that this order may deny care to adults, who are free to make their own health care decisions, this overreaching executive order substitutes the president’s misinformed view for that of every medical association in America.
—Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The actions have been sharply criticized by Democrats who say the unelected tech billionaire is overreaching and prompted several lawsuits.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
In response, the administration pushed back with claims that the court is overreaching.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
Some Democrats criticized Biden’s moves as overreaching.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
That's hard to do when a candidate doesn't even win a majority of the popular vote, but presidents often overread their electoral mandates and wind up overreaching.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
In the meantime, not everyone is convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t already overreaching in Syria to win domestic political points.
—Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
There’s a difference between overreaching and more dangerous behaviors.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
The Editors, National Review, 10 Mar. 2025
Setting aside the fact that this order may deny care to adults, who are free to make their own health care decisions, this overreaching executive order substitutes the president’s misinformed view for that of every medical association in America.
—Edwin C. Yohnka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
The actions have been sharply criticized by Democrats who say the unelected tech billionaire is overreaching and prompted several lawsuits.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2025
In response, the administration pushed back with claims that the court is overreaching.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
Some Democrats criticized Biden’s moves as overreaching.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
That's hard to do when a candidate doesn't even win a majority of the popular vote, but presidents often overread their electoral mandates and wind up overreaching.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
In the meantime, not everyone is convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t already overreaching in Syria to win domestic political points.
—Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
There’s a difference between overreaching and more dangerous behaviors.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overreaching
Verb
-
Winston has continued to provide value in locker rooms despite not exceeding the big expectations that followed the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner to the NFL during his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Developing a liquid metal layer The extreme conditions within a fusion reactor, where super-heated plasma reaches temperatures exceeding those of the sun, pose a significant challenge to material science.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The show, hosted by actor Alan Cumming and set in a remote Scottish castle, features reality TV veterans and celebrities working together—and often deceiving each other—in challenges for a cash prize.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Augusta National will quickly expose even the most microscopic weakness in one’s game with its winding fairways and deceiving putting surfaces.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The movie Wicked has officially become the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in box office history, surpassing the movie musical Mamma Mia.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
-
The 2024 edition marks the highest tally of all time, greatly surpassing Barack Obama’s previous record of 95,894 pages.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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As a result, terrorists and rogue states now have a harder time circumventing conventional financial controls.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Dec. 2024
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On December 11, the European Union approved its 15th sanctions package against the Kremlin, targeting entities within Russia and third-party nations that facilitate upgraded military and technological capabilities by circumventing restrictions.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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James cuts back inside onto his right foot, fooling the defender, rather than going to the byline off his left foot.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Each plays a role in fooling their foe, who captures the turtle, while the deer, heeding the turtle’s good counsel, manages a sly escape.—
John Nemec,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overreaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overreaching. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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