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

The film follows a group of 300 Spartan warriors facing overwhelming odds. — Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

The overwhelming success of Season 1 gave the executive producers wriggle room for Season 2. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026

An eminently reasonable position shared by the overwhelming majority of the American public. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

The overwhelming majority of medical experts agree—and the scientific evidence shows—that the causes of autism are multifaceted and may include genetic as well as environmental factors and that rising rates may be attributable to better diagnostics. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

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