engulfing

verb

present participle of engulf
as in flooding
to cover with a flood high waves from the hurricane engulfed large areas of the coastal community

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of engulfing But the scandal engulfing Platner’s candidacy has invited a who’s who of Maine Democrats to float their names for the nomination, some of whom are more liberal than others. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026 Graser told News 5 that the fire quickly spread, engulfing much of the center structure. — Bryce Buyakie, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Kane unleashed a huge smile before engulfing Bellingham in a big embrace. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026 The room is engulfing in its mid-century glamour, down to the red carpet and lavishly spaced tables that keep the room quiet and conversations private. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026 The sun itself will undergo this transformation in around 5 billion years, swelling out to around the orbit of Mars and engulfing the inner rocky planets, including Earth. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 June 2026 Video showed flames and smoke engulfing the hotel as guests and staff evacuated. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026 However, volcanic ash that washed into rivers and the sea during the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo is slowly engulfing the wreck. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 But the sight of fire and smoke engulfing the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, drew significant and widespread condemnation. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engulfing
  1. flooding
  2. overwhelming
  3. drowning
  4. submerging
Verb
  • Due to flooding risks heightened by the Claremont Fire’s burn scar, the National Weather Service is closely monitoring conditions of the Freestone Creek Basin near the Military Reserve.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026
  • Despite the copious downpour that led to flooding across many parts of the country in the last two weeks, India still faces the prospect of a deficient monsoon this year.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of flooding
Verb
  • Nieuw Bergen presents an innovative and attractive approach to inner-city housing, demonstrating how housing developments can be introduced without overwhelming the character of an existing neighborhood.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 04, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • The best caftans feel lightweight and roomy without overwhelming your frame.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • Investigation and potential parental charges While the medical response faces scrutiny, local law enforcement is focusing on the events leading up to the near-drowning.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • The death marked the fourth fatal drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2026, according to the patrol’s data.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Definition of drowning
Verb
  • While a viral video on TikTok from 2021 suggested that submerging avocados in water keeps them fresher, longer, the FDA cautions against this method.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
  • Blanched Blanching, which involves boiling the food first and then submerging it in cold water, is another healthy method of cooking spinach.
    — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
Definition of submerging

Browse Nearby Words

engulfed
engulfing
engulfment
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Cite this Entry

“Engulfing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engulfing. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on engulfing

Nglish: Translation of engulfing for Spanish Speakers

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