overreach
verb
over·reach
ˌō-vər-ˈrēch 
ˌō-və-
overreached; overreaching; overreaches
1
: to reach above or beyond : overtop
2
: to defeat (oneself) by seeking to do or gain too much
3
: to get the better of especially in dealing and bargaining and typically by unscrupulous or crafty methods
1
of a horse
: to strike the forefoot with the front part of the hind foot
2
a
: to go to excess
b
3
: to overreach oneself
Synonyms
Examples of overreach in a Sentence
She overreaches in her latest book, and her argument is not convincing.
The company overreached itself and ran out of money after one year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Peanut’s seizure and execution have been taken as a symbol of government overreach with the official Twitter account of the GOP House Judiciary Committee calling for justice.
—
Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Industry groups joined a coalition of 23 Republican attorneys generals in arguing the Environmental Protection Agency overreached when imposing new rules this year to address one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
—Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York opposed Combs’ motion, claiming not only was the request broad and overreaching, but would potentially silence accusers who were not part of the criminal case.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Zoom out: Cheekwood argued that the volunteer organizers had not managed funds properly while the volunteers said the botanical garden was overreaching into the planning and finances of their event.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overreach 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Industry groups joined a coalition of 23 Republican attorneys generals in arguing the Environmental Protection Agency overreached when imposing new rules this year to address one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
—Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024
Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York opposed Combs’ motion, claiming not only was the request broad and overreaching, but would potentially silence accusers who were not part of the criminal case.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Zoom out: Cheekwood argued that the volunteer organizers had not managed funds properly while the volunteers said the botanical garden was overreaching into the planning and finances of their event.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overreach
Dictionary Entries Near overreach
Cite this Entry
“Overreach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overreach. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
overreach
intransitive verb
over·reach
-ˈrēch
of a horse
: to strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or quarter of the forefoot
Legal Definition
overreach
transitive verb
over·reach
ˌō-vər-ˈrēch
: to make (someone or something) the subject of overreaching
this uncounseled defendant was…overreached by the prosecution's submission of misinformation to the court—Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948)
Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948)must determine whether it overreached privilege—National Law Journal
National Law JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share