overpower

Overpower is a verb meaning to overcome with power or to supply more power than a device or system is designed to handle. In everyday usage, to overpower can describe defeating an opponent through superior force, or dominating a situation through strength or influence. The term can also describe exceeding a system’s or component’s rated capacity by delivering more energy than it is designed to manage.

In electrical engineering and electronics, overpower occurs when a device is supplied with more electrical power than its rated value. This can cause overheating, insulation damage, shortened component life, tripping of protective devices, or catastrophic failure. Designers mitigate this through power ratings, heat sinking, thermal protection, and automatic overload or overcurrent protection.

In mechanical contexts, overpower can describe a situation where a drivetrain, engine, or motor produces more torque or horsepower than the connected components can reliably handle, which may lead to wear, slippage, or failure. Conversely, intentional overpowering of a system can occur in performance tuning, though it risks reduced longevity if not properly managed.

In popular culture and technology discourse, “overpowered” (often abbreviated OP) describes anything perceived as having excessive strength or capability relative to a standard, such as a character, weapon, or feature in a game or narrative.