the overarching power

USAGE SUMMARY

'the overarching power' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence: "The government had an overarching power to sanction anyone who broke the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We will look at the last six years and ask: Did our changes help?" The relatively minor changes will do little to alter the overarching power the mayor has over the city schools.

The New York Times

How, they ask, in a world saturated with information, with yet more art and antiques programs (guilty ), books (guilty), art courses and the overarching power of the main auction houses, can great artworks slip by?

The New York Times

And in that sense, this stadium feels like a mythic gesture: A challenge for people in Qatar to see yet suppress acknowledgement of the overarching power of women on this planet.

The Washington Post

This task is a unique responsibility of the federal government, the only entity with the overarching power and resources to inspire a national audience to take action.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Whereas colonial authorities initially attempted to destroy the overarching powers of the African kings and paramounts, who had led the military resistance to colonialism and symbolized the cohesion of their people, the role of intermediate chiefs in providing a cheap administrative infrastructure was soon recognized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In recent years, he had run the U.N. administrations in Kosovo and East Timor, where he had been invested with virtually the same overarching powers that L. Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, had been given in Iraq.

The New Yorker

Octavian's power was now unassailable and in 27 BC the Roman Senate formally granted him overarching power and the new title Augustus, effectively marking the end of the Roman Republic.

Wikipedia

The broadcasters didn't hold their horses long enough to learn that Roberts was going on to say that the overarching constitutional power of Congress to levy taxation trumped this earlier finding, in fact legitimized the law's 'individual mandate' -- and thus the Act survived.

Huffington Post

In my scholarly field of political theory, radical critiques of constitutional democracy (whether Marxist, Foucauldian, feminist, Freudian, or post-structuralist) commonly contend that the rule of law is a sham, a pretense, a mere cover for underlying or overarching power interests.

Huffington Post

I think the overarching themes here are power and superiority, rather than slickness.

TechCrunch

To introduce the overarching themes and concept of how power can corrupt, the film opens with an animated sequence, a Chinese parable with an original twist.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the overarching power", ensure the context clearly defines the scope and limits of this power to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "the overarching power" when describing minor or localized effects. Reserve it for situations where the impact is truly widespread and fundamental.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the overarching power" functions as a noun phrase, where "overarching" acts as an adjective modifying "power". It denotes a comprehensive or dominant influence that has a broad scope or effect. Ludwig provides examples showing this phrase in contexts ranging from political control to abstract themes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the overarching power" is a noun phrase used to describe a comprehensive or dominant influence. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and employed in contexts ranging from political analysis to philosophical discussions. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific publications, indicating a formal or neutral register. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context supports the notion of a truly widespread and foundational influence. While alternatives like "dominant authority" or "supreme control" exist, "the overarching power" uniquely emphasizes the extent and significance of the influence in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the dominant authority

Focuses more on the aspect of control and leadership rather than the overall scope.

the supreme control

Emphasizes a higher level of management or governance, instead of a broad influence.

the comprehensive authority

Highlights a broad range of control, emphasizing completeness more than dominance.

the ultimate authority

Refers to the final or highest source of command, suggesting a conclusive power.

the overriding influence

Focuses on the capacity to affect character, development, or behavior.

the prevailing force

Implies a strength that is currently ascendant or most effective.

the main jurisdiction

Highlights the legal or official power to make decisions or judgments.

the principal leverage

Refers to a key advantage or influence used to achieve a goal.

the general command

Emphasizes the act of directing or ordering, typically in a military context.

the absolute dominion

Suggests complete ownership or control over something.

FAQs

How can I use "the overarching power" in a sentence?

You can use "the overarching power" to describe a dominant force or influence that affects many aspects of a situation. For example: "The government's new regulations gave it "the overarching power" over the industry."

What phrases are similar to "the overarching power"?

Similar phrases include "the dominant authority", "the supreme control", or "the ultimate authority". Each of these options conveys a sense of broad and significant control.

Is it better to say "overall power" or "overarching power"?

While both "overall power" and "overarching power" can be used to describe a broad influence, "overarching power" often implies a more encompassing and foundational control. Choose the term that best fits the specific context.

When is it inappropriate to use "the overarching power"?

It is inappropriate to use "the overarching power" when describing a minor influence or a situation where the control is limited in scope. Use it only when the influence is genuinely widespread and significant.