overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)wel-miŋ 

: tending or serving to overwhelm

overwhelming force

overwhelming evidence

also : extreme, great

overwhelming indifference

an overwhelming majority

Examples of overwhelming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the indirect, astrophysical evidence supporting its existence is overwhelming, all direct detection efforts have come up empty. —Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026

In the meantime, online advertising still accounts for the overwhelming majority of Meta’s revenue. —Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026

Like the weather, there is no surefire way to predict the result of a sporting event or a player’s performance despite the overwhelming amount of data and advanced metrics at the disposal of both fans and professional analysts alike. —Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026

For all of the overwhelming nostalgia for 2016 that has defined these early weeks of 2026, very little of this collective cultural reminiscing has mourned the reign of Rihanna. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈhwel-miŋ 

-wel-

: great sense 4, extreme

an overwhelming response

overwhelmingly adverb