Meaning & use
overprotective
Last updated
excessively protective of someone, often in a way that limits their independence.
See it in a sentence
Her overprotective parents wouldn't let her walk to school alone even at fourteen.
He admitted he'd become overprotective of his younger sister after their parents' divorce.
A note on using this word
Overprotective implies that protection has gone beyond what's reasonable or helpful, often stifling the other person's autonomy.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
neglectful
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