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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whelmed
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
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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Instead of clarity, leaders and teams are often overwhelmed by commentary.—
Jeanne M. Stafford,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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And in moments when a winner did say what was on their mind, the Boys & Girls Club bit overwhelmed them.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland said she was devastated and angry about the shooting.—
Katie Langford,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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June’s death in May 2003 left the music legend devastated.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelmed. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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