overarching
Spanning the whole
Overarching describes something that encompasses or spans everything else within a category—an overarching theme, an overarching goal, an overarching principle.
The image is of an arch that curves over and contains whatever lies beneath it.
The word appears almost exclusively in abstract contexts: The overarching concern was public safety.
Handheld rain shelter
- encompassingIncluding all within bounds
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
wide-ranging · broad · expansive · comprehensive · inclusive · extensive · panoramic · synoptic
Of supreme significance
- supremeHighest in authority
- principalChief school administrator
- preeminentSuperior to all others
- predominantMost common or powerful
foremost · chief · ultimate · transcendent · superior · primary · leading · central
Controlling with authority
- controllingExerting authority over others
- dominantHaving superior influence
- commandingExerting strong authority
- presidingLeading a formal gathering
ruling · supervising · regulatory · directive · guiding · managing · steering · hierarchical
Giving something its form
- determiningEstablishing with certainty
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
- pervasivePresent throughout, inescapable
- prevailingMost common or accepted
defining · informing · underlying · foundational · motivating · driving · framing · orienting
umbrella
Handheld rain shelter
- encompassingIncluding all within bounds
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
sweeping · wide-ranging · broad · expansive · comprehensive · inclusive · extensive · panoramic · synoptic · macroscopic
paramount
Of supreme significance
- supremeHighest in authority
- principalChief school administrator
- preeminentSuperior to all others
predominant · foremost · chief · ultimate · transcendent · superior · primary · leading · central · main
governing
Controlling with authority
- controllingExerting authority over others
- dominantHaving superior influence
- commandingExerting strong authority
presiding · ruling · supervising · regulatory · directive · guiding · managing · steering · hierarchical · administrative
shaping
Giving something its form
- determiningEstablishing with certainty
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
- pervasivePresent throughout, inescapable
prevailing · defining · informing · underlying · foundational · motivating · driving · framing · orienting · unifying
- goalsgoals, goal, aims, objective, objectives
overarchingnarrow
Of small width
limited · restricted · specific · confined · circumscribed
overarchingspecific
Clearly defined, not vague
particular · detailed · granular · precise · concrete
overarchingsubordinate
One lower in rank
insignificant · subsidiary · minor · secondary · peripheral
arch, arched, archway, arching, arches, overarch, archways, overarched, overarches