Overcome
What it means
To succeed in moving through or gaining control over a serious difficulty.
Reach for it when describing real progress past an obstacle, fear, or disadvantage
Patient practice helped Leo overcome his fear of deep water.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when decisive victory suits energetic encouragement
Careful Conquer can imply permanent defeat of an ongoing struggle.
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everyday
defeat
Fits when a clear opponent has lost
Careful Defeat frames experience as combat.
-
warm
get through
Fits when endurance deserves humane language
Careful Getting through may mean surviving, not resolving.
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professional
Fits when skill brings something under control
Careful Master suggests lasting command.
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professional
Fits when a problem reaches a workable conclusion
Careful Resolve does not fit every fear or physical barrier.
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formal
surmount
Fits when effort gets beyond a substantial obstacle
Careful Surmount fits barriers better than emotions.
-
literary
rise above
Fits when character remains generous despite hurt
Careful Rise above can judge people still struggling.
Opposites 3
- succumb
- yield
- be defeated
Common phrases 3
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overcome a challenge
The cooperative found a shared route to overcome a challenge.
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overcome fear
Short supported swims helped Dana overcome fear without force.
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overcome barriers
Captioning can overcome barriers that a louder speaker cannot.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated