overwhelm
verb
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Let’s face it: life can get overwhelming. A person might be overwhelmed by a sensory experience or emotion; a city might be overwhelmed by an influx of tourists. Things can underwhelm, too: a bland meal, a bare wall, a lackluster playlist. But how often does an experience just, well, whelm you? The answer, unassumingly, is just as often as one overwhelms you—the two verbs are in fact largely synonymous. Both come from Middle English whelmen, meaning "to overturn," and overwhelm has always been more popular, perhaps because the emphatic redundancy of overwhelm makes it seem more apt for describing reactions to powerful forces or feelings.
Examples of overwhelm in a Sentence
PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
The lavender and orange blossom in Libre complement the floral elements in The Ivory perfectly, while adding a bit more projection and longevity without overwhelming the delicate marshmallow base.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Unlike a management game like Stardew Valley, whose expansive opportunities can overwhelm the player with the curse of choice, Tiny Bookshop is pretty limited in its gameplay.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
But the key to getting this look just right is to take a thoughtful approach — blend classic elements of the style in a way that resonates with your everyday living, and add some retro flair (without overwhelming yourself or your space).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelm
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwhelm. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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overwhelm
verb
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