overwhelmed

adjective

over·​whelmed ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welmd 

1

: overcome by force or numbers

Some jurisdictions are so overwhelmed that they are experimenting with routing school-children into specially designed courts that would keep first-time offenders from being saddled with an arrest record.

—Gary Fields and John R. Emshwiller

Only three Coast Guard rescue helicopters had managed to get into the air, and each was already overwhelmed by dozens of calls for help.

—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block

"We were overwhelmed," said John Robinson, the Rams' coach. "Clearly dominated."

—Paul Zimmerman

2

: completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling

When he first appeared in full regalia, I was overwhelmed.

—Jane Davison

Suddenly he felt overwhelmed by a wash of terror.

—Holly Black

He finds that the institutions that might compensate for what overwhelmed parents are unable to do are themselves undermined by stingy public policies.

—Lisbeth B. Schorr

Examples of overwhelmed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Growth is inevitable, but gridlock, overwhelmed city services, and disconnected communities don’t have to be. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

They’re sleep-deprived, overwhelmed and managing so many responsibilities. —Michelle Stansbury, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

So, next time you’re overwhelmed by the latest climate headline, get outside, do some science and help secure a liveable future for us all. —Brooke Kasl-Godley, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025

Over the past few decades, the professional world has grown more specialized, leading to complex managerial decisions that can leave even the most capable executives feeling overwhelmed. —Maxim Sytch, Harvard Business Review, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1