1
as in to overcome
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to engulf
to cover with a flood
that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overwhelm
As demand for assistance overwhelmed state unemployment trust funds, frantic local officials begged for federal action.
—
Will Swaim, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
If the next season has new mysteries to ponder on top of all of that, I’ll be overwhelmed.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 June 2025
The Russian strategy seeks to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses with scores of low-cost drones so that simultaneous missile strikes can succeed.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Cruel and unaccountable events pile up, overwhelming any sense of normality.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Will Swaim, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
If the next season has new mysteries to ponder on top of all of that, I’ll be overwhelmed.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 June 2025
The Russian strategy seeks to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses with scores of low-cost drones so that simultaneous missile strikes can succeed.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Cruel and unaccountable events pile up, overwhelming any sense of normality.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelm
Verb
-
But your brain might still seek patterns to overcome.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Yet soon one is overcome by Charles Laughton’s creepy, convincing portrayal of Captain Bligh’s sadomasochism: most of the first fifteen minutes is taken up with floggings and other shipboard disciplining of half-naked men, shown in detail while Laughton looks on with long-lipped lasciviousness.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Fire engulfed several boats around a dock early Friday in the condo canyon of Sunny Isles Beach.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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Smoke from Canadian wildfires is engulfing much of the eastern and central United States and will last through the week.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Verb
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While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated by even the implications.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
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The group warns that the ban on hemp products with THC would devastate legal businesses and drive demand toward the unregulated black market.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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At a time when the demagogue Father Coughlin was flooding the radio with antisemitic hate speech, Berg offered counterprogramming.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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By Sunday, the National Guard had arrived in the city, and images of heavily armed officers confronting peaceful demonstrators, including journalists and musicians, began flooding social media.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The pressure in each case was almost immediately crushing.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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Using a potato masher, lightly crush some of the potatoes, then transfer them all to a large bowl and top generously with pats of butter.—
Ryan McCarthy,
Saveur,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Multiple adults, including the mother, were monitoring the group of children swimming when the boy drowned, deputies said.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2025
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Three kayakers, including Boswell High School senior Luke Nickens, drowned in North Texas lakes in March.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelm. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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