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

Anyone heading into a Costco warehouse for the first time may feel a little overwhelmed by the aisles of products to try. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 14 May 2025

In the clip, Kardashian, Watts, and Nash-Betts can be seen holding an introductory meeting with an overwhelmed and apologetic client, played by Elizabeth Berkley. —Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 13 May 2025

Additionally, 50% feel overwhelmed by the plethora of cybersecurity tools available, and nearly 70% rely on third-party guidance for purchasing decisions. —Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Some teams come here and get overwhelmed by the speed of Bodo/Glimt’s possession, the relentless attacks roared on by the home crowd. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1