overwhelm

verb

over·​whelm ˌō-vər-ˈ(h)welm How to pronounce overwhelm (audio)
overwhelmed; overwhelming; overwhelms

transitive verb

1
: upset, overthrow
The tornado overwhelmed many mobile homes.
2
a
: to cover over completely : submerge
The city was overwhelmed by the flooding caused by the hurricane.
b
: to overcome by superior force or numbers
The city was overwhelmed by the invading army.
c
: to overpower in thought or feeling
overwhelmed with grief
overwhelmed by terror
A sense of inadequacy overwhelmed me.
overwhelmed with guilt

Did you know?

Let’s face it: life can get overwhelming. A person might be overwhelmed by a sensory experience or emotion; a city might be overwhelmed by an influx of tourists. Things can underwhelm, too: a bland meal, a bare wall, a lackluster playlist. But how often does an experience just, well, whelm you? The answer, unassumingly, is just as often as one overwhelms you—the two verbs are in fact largely synonymous. Both come from Middle English whelmen, meaning "to overturn," and overwhelm has always been more popular, perhaps because the emphatic redundancy of overwhelm makes it seem more apt for describing reactions to powerful forces or feelings.

Examples of overwhelm in a Sentence

Don't overwhelm him with facts. They were overwhelmed with work. The city was overwhelmed by the invading army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Countries can deploy decoys to overwhelm missile defenses during the midcourse phase, allowing warheads to reach targets, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 He had been captivated by the high-intensity football Marcelo Bielsa had implemented at Athletic Club, a style that had overwhelmed Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United en route to the Europa League final that year. Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Indeed, after the pandemic—which initially decimated sales but then led to a surge in business that overwhelmed REI’s supply chain and operations—Artz made moves that angered many employees. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025 Both of these will amplify that creamy base and give you amped up staying power without overwhelming the floral heart. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overwhelm

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from over entry 1 + whelmen to turn over, cover up

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overwhelm was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overwhelm. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

overwhelm

verb
over·​whelm ˌō-vər-ˈhwelm How to pronounce overwhelm (audio)
-ˈwelm
1
: to cover over completely : submerge
a boat overwhelmed by a wave
2
: to overcome completely : crush
overwhelmed by grief

More from Merriam-Webster on overwhelm

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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