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 vibe is energetic without being overwhelming—a place where groups gather, conversations fill the air, and the meal becomes the centerpiece of the evening. —Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

But at a time when strains of anti-intellectualism are on display in pockets of society, and at a time when all else in the world feels overwhelming, Yeo says she’s moved to see people express so much interest in educational pursuits. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025

There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming. —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025

At the same time, the glut of ultra-fast fashion, driven by throwaway culture, is overwhelming waste management capacity. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 12 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