The opposite of "overcomes" is "succumbs." Overcoming implies succeeding in conquering something, while succumbing means to give in or lose control to something. Other antonyms for "overcomes" include "fails," "struggles," and "surrenders." Failing indicates not succeeding in a given task or challenge, while struggling implies an effort to succeed but not quite getting there. Surrendering, on the other hand, means giving up entirely without making an attempt to overcome obstacles. It's essential to understand antonyms to use proper language while conveying a message, whether written or spoken.