overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)wel-miŋ 

: tending or serving to overwhelm

overwhelming force

overwhelming evidence

also : extreme, great

overwhelming indifference

an overwhelming majority

Examples of overwhelming in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s no easy feat, since coming to grips with environmental destruction is overwhelming and anxiety-inducing for most people and reducing climate impacts on film sets, where time is money, calls for balancing expectations with reality. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025

Shopping for a new season can be overwhelming, especially if your closet is in dire need of transitional staples. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Protecting your digital legacy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. —Jamie Hopkins, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Overblown, ostentatious hybrids of classical and local styles, kitschily ornamented with classical detail, all on a scale meant to be overwhelming rather than inviting—that’s what Big Brother’s city hall always looks like. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overwhelming

adjective

over·​whelm·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈhwel-miŋ 

-wel-

: great sense 4, extreme

an overwhelming response

overwhelmingly adverb