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

But the overwhelming odds favor those two. —Will Leitch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2026

There’s also just one overwhelming evil force in this play — the Nazis — whereas Dumas had his musketeers fighting not just ruthless government officials but royalty, religious leaders and nobles. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026

The overwhelming majority of NYCHA residents are Black and Brown, and only 4% are white. —Renee Collymore, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026

That sonority, at once hazy and precise, soft and powerful, builds into an overwhelming wave of melody, carrying us nearly to midnight. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 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