Outshadowed

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To experience diminished importance in relation to another indicates a sense of inferiority in presence To feel overshadowed by a greater entity reflects a lack of prominence To be rendered less conspicuous due to a stronger influence means losing recognition
2. To be surpassed or obscured by something more notable or impressive
3. To have one's importance or visibility reduced compared to something stronger or more dominant

Etymology: "Outshadowed" is the past participle of "outshadow," a verb formed from "out-" and "shadow." The pattern is simple: "out-" in this sense means "beyond" or "surpassing," so to outshadow something is to cast a larger shadow over it, eclipsing it in importance or brightness. The base "shadow," which goes back to Old English "sceadu," gave the verb its literal sense of darkening or covering with shade, and the extension to something being dimmed by a rival's greater prominence is a natural figurative step.

Synonyms: overshadowed, obscured