as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the news so whelmed them that they were stunned into silence
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Recent Examples of whelmed
Of all the underwhelming parts of this underwhelming finale of an underwhelming season, the final immunity challenge did not leave me whelmed.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelmed
Verb
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This administration hasn't necessarily overwhelmed the health-care experts with good news.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
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Alex Andrews added 12 points and the Cougars overwhelmed the Aztecs inside with Miles, Jacob Allen and Trevor Zenno.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whitaker and Perlah, who know about Louie’s advanced liver disease and see his care as routine, will be devastated to learn Louie is gone.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
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See the aftermath from above Infrastructure devastated There have been reports of severe damage to the area's infrastructure, including the city's hospital, schools and businesses.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelmed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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