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overawe

[oh-ver-aw] / ˌoʊ vərˈɔ /












Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Since conversion was thought to excuse conquest, these devotional artworks had to overawe their viewers.

From New York Times Oct. 27, 2022

The West is more immediate and can still overawe the spectator with substantial remnants of its old annihilating grandeur.

From Washington Post Mar. 9, 2017

Hoping to overawe the people of the land, Lewis would let out a blast of his air rifle, a relatively new piece of technology the Native Americans had never seen.

From Textbooks Dec. 30, 2014

They have not quite matched the show sometimes given by workers at the Venetian arsenal, who would assemble a galley in a single day in order to overawe visiting foreign dignitaries.

From Economist May 16, 2013

Jonathan’s impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him; instinctively they cowered, aside and let him pass.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

In the same way, these young people live in the light of the history of cinema, of the great age of Hollywood and the classic European cinema that also overarches and overawes the moderns.

From The New Yorker Oct. 29, 2014

"The building is a personal statement by Rudolph," he says, "and it overawes a student who is looking for a place to make his own personal statement."

From Time Magazine Archive

She flatters the vain, and overawes the weak, and gets by sheer impudence what other writers cannot....

From Women and the Alphabet A Series of Essays by Higginson, Thomas Wentworth

It is the individual atoms that build up the mighty and effective aggregate that overawes all opposition, and like an avalanche sweeps all resistance before it.

From Ridgeway An Historical Romance of the Fenian Invasion of Canada by Dubh, Scian

Having spoken of the Church, the great power which overawes the government, it is also proper to mention the secondary powers: the men of colossal fortune.

From Mexico and its Religion With Incidents of Travel in That Country During Parts of the Years 1851-52-53-54, and Historical Notices of Events Connected With Places Visited by Wilson, Robert A.

Neither looked overawed until O'Rourke returned for another nasty spell late in the day.

From BBC Jun. 18, 2026

Chelsea, winners of the past six WSL seasons and the current holders of all three domestic titles, looked like a team in headlights, completed overawed by City.

From BBC Feb. 1, 2026

Stidham has not thrown a pass in an NFL game for two years but Payton believes he will not be overawed, and the 62-year-old will tailor his gameplan.

From BBC Jan. 22, 2026

Both are experienced, so are unlikely to be overawed if called upon.

From BBC Nov. 5, 2025

Despite his haste, his panic, his fear of what awaited him back in the bathroom, he could not help but be overawed by what he was looking at.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

For some young players, the attention might be overawing.

From BBC May 30, 2025

The first album I'd ever bought was Ziggy Stardust and I owned all his others, so it was overawing, but he was really generous as a performer.

From The Guardian Feb. 23, 2013

The Europe through which his couple move is one of soft colors, handsome but not overawing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nowhere among these republics have great military establishments ever been maintained for the purpose of overawing or subjugating other nations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Apparently he towered over the Judge, overawing him.

From Fifty Years of Public Service by Cullom, Shelby M.




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