overwhelmed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of overwhelmednext
as in bewildered

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overwhelmed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of overwhelm
1
as in devastated
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress just the thought of how much work there is to do overwhelms me

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flooded
to cover with a flood that spring the massive runoff from melting snows overwhelmed the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 overwhelmed
Adjective
Keeping caregivers from being overwhelmed Wisconsin has tried to build something similar, county by county. — Raginee Sudhir Chaurey, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026 Regional centers could be overwhelmed, especially by spikes in demand. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
These older one-directional grids are being overwhelmed by demand surges and a boom in renewables. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026 The awkward silence overwhelmed everyone until the major stepped in front of Helen. — Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overwhelmed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overwhelmed
  1. bewildered
  2. devastated
  3. flooded
  4. staggered
  5. overcame
  6. engulfed
  7. stunned
  8. crushed
Adjective
  • For the first 12 minutes, the Bulls watched Brunson with the bewildered air of a student who forgot to study for a test.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • She was devastated, knowing the business is the family's primary source of income and helps support their four children.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The post-World War II geopolitical landscape is reconstructing itself faster than the Ginza district, which was devastated in the last film and continues to look like a battlefield.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • When the continents sank in the Cambrian, seas flooded in and buried the eroded surface.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
  • That group and other environmental organizations have also argued the chunk of the Sacramento Valley that could soon be flooded is composed of rich oak woodland habitat occupied by an untold number of wildlife species.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of flooded
Adjective
  • Compact Dimensions Meet Dirt-Bike Hardware The EM5 Ultra uses a 17-inch front wheel and a 14-inch rear wheel, giving it the staggered configuration commonly found on compact dirt motorcycles.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This week, the Waterford School District began a staggered schedule of bus cancellations due to a staffing shortage.
    — Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • Aaron Ekblad added two assists and Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves as the Panthers overcame a 38-28 shot disadvantage to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 6-0-0 when leading after two periods.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Less than six months ago, the Knicks furiously overcame a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of overcame
Verb
  • Paxton attendees were shocked at the blue tsunami that engulfed the country.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site and little remained of the plane.
    — DAVID FISCHER, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of engulfed
Adjective
  • That, to my mind, is why Wiles seemed so stunned by the firestorm that erupted when her words appeared in my 10,000-word Vanity Fair series last December.
    — Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The scene is one of many standout moments that left audiences and Fielder himself both stunned and uncomfortable.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • Georgia crushed Philo’s confidence, intercepting him twice in three series.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Trump endorsed Hilton, who finished second in the June primary and was predictably crushed Tuesday by California’s governor-elect, Xavier Becerra.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of crushed

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Cite this Entry

“Overwhelmed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overwhelmed. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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