1
as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surpluses
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in spills
to flow over the brim or top of
while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in engulfs
to cover with a flood
the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflows
Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
However, long-term problems persist as completely eliminating overflows will take decades, according to officials.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The buildup can also clog sewage systems, leading to overflows that send raw sewage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Officials at the Water Reclamation Authority are pursuing new goals after the utility was officially released last year from a pair of longstanding legal agreements that required the utility to address sewer overflows, leading to major investments across the system.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
Human waste and trash overflows became so problematic at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California that the parks were forced to close, according to the association.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Post updated to remove comparison to buffer overflows and SQL injections.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
What has the city done about the overflows?
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
This would prevent combined sewer overflows, which is when sewage floods area stormwater lines and deposits into local waterbodies.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The policy also reduces the chance of being seated next to a passenger who overflows into adjacent seats.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Mass migration, overflows at the border, and worsening street conditions because of drug dealing and crime in San Francisco are some of the issues Karina Velasquez started paying more attention to after the 2020 elections.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The basement floods when nearby Hogans Creek overflows.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Anger overflows in west Altadena.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Good morning, Free Press subscribers, The Motor City overflows with big-time automotive events this week.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
However, long-term problems persist as completely eliminating overflows will take decades, according to officials.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The buildup can also clog sewage systems, leading to overflows that send raw sewage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Officials at the Water Reclamation Authority are pursuing new goals after the utility was officially released last year from a pair of longstanding legal agreements that required the utility to address sewer overflows, leading to major investments across the system.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
Human waste and trash overflows became so problematic at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California that the parks were forced to close, according to the association.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Post updated to remove comparison to buffer overflows and SQL injections.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
What has the city done about the overflows?
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
This would prevent combined sewer overflows, which is when sewage floods area stormwater lines and deposits into local waterbodies.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The villain, Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, overflows with humanity, too.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The policy also reduces the chance of being seated next to a passenger who overflows into adjacent seats.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Mass migration, overflows at the border, and worsening street conditions because of drug dealing and crime in San Francisco are some of the issues Karina Velasquez started paying more attention to after the 2020 elections.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The basement floods when nearby Hogans Creek overflows.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Anger overflows in west Altadena.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Good morning, Free Press subscribers, The Motor City overflows with big-time automotive events this week.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflows
Noun
-
Schoen’s land had been through floods before, and water reaching past the pavilion was nothing new to him.—
Abrielle Kate Maddison,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In reality, Real Kashmir FC was born out of the devastating Kashmir floods of 2014, which killed around 550 people in India and Pakistan.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lawmakers should strengthen the spending and volatility caps by limiting off budget workarounds and ensuring that one-time surpluses are used responsibly.—
Carol Platt Liebau,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs each have infield surpluses, making players like Isaac Paredes, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw logical targets.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The luxury spills over into the bathrooms, featuring freestanding stone bathtubs, walk-in rain showers, and steam rooms.—
Harriet Compston,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Natural light streaming in through glass walls spills over a curved Vladimir Kagan sofa, as well as an Ado Chale coffee table that stretches out over a custom wool and silk rug by Fedora Design.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Without intervention, water flows off the steep slopes in torrents, rapidly stripping away soil.—
Stephen Acabado,
The Conversation,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As much as any other institution—schools, libraries, churches—the public-health system has helped propagate the idea of a commons, often working against historical inertia to curb the excesses of American individualism.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Foreign observers, Liu argues, tend to portray Chinese people as either the enablers or the victims of their government’s excesses.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For the characters, the love itself overwhelms every other consideration of feeling.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
What overwhelms her isn’t the wedding itself, but the realization that her lifelong role as Lexi’s default person is about to shift.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This hotel buzzes with young style- and budget-conscious travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Getty Images Of the nine players in the Rays’ batting order Opening Day 2025 against the visiting Rockies, only four remain with the club less than one month before Charlotte Sports Park buzzes with activity that signals the start of spring training.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflows. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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