Master confusing words with ease
Overweening vs. Overwhelming
Overweening
/əʊvəˈwiːnɪŋ/Examples:
His overweening pride led to his eventual downfall.She displayed an overweening sense of self-importance.The CEO's overweening ambitions worried the board.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Overwhelming
/ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋ/Examples:
She felt an overwhelming sense of loss.'Gentle, charming, overwhelming Sally.'"It's overwhelming," Lyon said.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonymsWays to tell them apart:
- Think of overweening as indicating excess pride, often in oneself.
- Overwhelming relates to something being overpowering or too much to handle, not related to pride.
- Overweening is a more uncommon word and is often used in literary contexts.
- If you hear overwhelming, consider if its about something thats too intense or strong to manage.
- Remember, overweening sounds a bit like ween which might trigger thoughts of excessive pride or ego.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd