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

That way, everyone is prepared and with the Galápagos National Park Service directing ship traffic, the UNESCO World Heritage site doesn’t get too overwhelmed by visitors. —Kaeli Conforti, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

This can lead to slow or gurgling pipes, or even minor flooding if the system gets too overwhelmed. —Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025

Getting dressed each morning can be tricky if you’re overwhelmed by clothing options. —Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Instead of getting overwhelmed by how much is changing, try to trust the process. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1