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
Gary Fields and John R. EmshwillerOnly 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
Christopher Cooper and Robert Block"We were overwhelmed," said John Robinson, the Rams' coach. "Clearly dominated."—Paul Zimmerman
Paul Zimmerman2
: completely overcome or overpowered by thought or feeling
When he first appeared in full regalia, I was overwhelmed.—Jane Davison
Jane DavisonSuddenly he felt overwhelmed by a wash of terror.—Holly Black
Holly BlackHe 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
Lisbeth B. SchorrExamples of overwhelmed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Leaders assume everyone is using AI tools correctly, but the truth is, a lot of people are stuck, overwhelmed, and afraid to break something.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Having poor boundaries People with weak boundaries often had parents who were somehow incapacitated — through addiction, poverty, feeling overwhelmed, or simple immaturity — and the role of providing emotional stability at home fell on their small shoulders.
—Lisa Oake, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2025
When Castro opened the Port of Mariel to fleeing Cubans four decades ago, overwhelmed local and federal agencies shepherded those without any prior connection to the U.S. to makeshift tent cities under the I-95 overpass along the Miami river.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
The volume of new initiatives, new curriculum and procedural changes has left teachers overwhelmed with little indication of meaningful relief, the public posting states.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
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Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Having poor boundaries People with weak boundaries often had parents who were somehow incapacitated — through addiction, poverty, feeling overwhelmed, or simple immaturity — and the role of providing emotional stability at home fell on their small shoulders.
—Lisa Oake, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2025
When Castro opened the Port of Mariel to fleeing Cubans four decades ago, overwhelmed local and federal agencies shepherded those without any prior connection to the U.S. to makeshift tent cities under the I-95 overpass along the Miami river.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
The volume of new initiatives, new curriculum and procedural changes has left teachers overwhelmed with little indication of meaningful relief, the public posting states.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overwhelmed
Cite this Entry
“Overwhelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwhelmed. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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