Advertisement

overbearing (adj.)

"haughty, dictatorial," 1732, figurative present-participle adjective from overbear (v.) in its modern sense "to repress by force, overpower." Earlier the word was used in a literal sense (1670s), but this seems to be obsolete. In Middle English it was a verbal noun, "act of transferring or transporting" (early 15c.).

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of overbearing from WordNet

overbearing (adj.)
expecting unquestioning obedience;
insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter
overbearing (adj.)
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; "a more swaggering mood than usual"- W.L.Shirer;
Synonyms: disdainful / haughty / imperious / lordly / prideful / sniffy / supercilious / swaggering
From wordnet.princeton.edu