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

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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 overwhelmed
Adjective
Hamid, who works with an ERR in el-Obeid, says volunteers are overwhelmed right now, because clean water is hard to find and medical facilities are struggling to keep up with demand. — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026 Chin, who immigrated from Malaysia to the US in 1981 and has been in Texas for over three decades, is overwhelmed. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Verb
My mom is in her late 80s and overwhelmed by trying to care for herself. — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026 At least two people have died as catastrophic flooding has stricken Texas Hill Country, a little over a year after rains overwhelmed the same region's Guadalupe River, causing flooding that killed over 130 people. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 July 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
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
  • Away from the bewildered rancher calling out in surprise, away from the Appaloosa.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • The clinics are stocked with medical supplies and generators to help restore healthcare in communities devastated by the earthquakes.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
  • The fire in rural Guadalajara comes less than two weeks after a deadly blaze devastated a small expat community in southern Spain.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • Whether driven by admiration or nostalgia for his first spell, the club’s fans flooded the comments section welcoming back their hero.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Chinese companies, including DeepSeek, have previously flooded the market with more affordable, open models that typically lag behind the most cutting-edge software from US rivals but nonetheless can undercut them on price.
    — Michael Shepard, Fortune, 24 July 2026
Definition of flooded
Adjective
  • Apple might delay the full rollout of these desktop AI utilities beyond the initial Q4 2026 macOS 27 release, preferring a staggered approach to unify features across platforms, mirroring iOS.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The car’s also ride on staggered 21- and 22-inch Altanero rims and feature bronze brake calipers and black exhaust tips.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • Christian Walker hit a three-run double, Cam Smith added a two-run homer in Houston’s eight-run sixth inning and the Astros overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Friday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • Keegan netted twice in the first leg of the final as Liverpool overcame Borussia Monchengladbach 3-2 on aggregate.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of overcame
Verb
  • From a military perspective though, this strike, and the infernos which have engulfed other Wildberries facilities, have some important lessons for the rest of the world.
    — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The blazes that engulfed the island ultimately killed over 100 people and burned thousands of acres, including more than 2,000 buildings in Lāhainā.
    — Angus Chen, STAT, 22 July 2026
Definition of engulfed
Adjective
  • The first booking was handed out in the 41st minute and — set your faces to stunned – it was shown to an Argentina player.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Megan Fox looked stunned in sheer black underwear and a lengthy veil in photos shared to her Instagram account on Thursday.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • The Endurance had been trapped in Antarctic pack ice for ten months before the pressure finally crushed its hull.
    — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Lieberman came back, running as an independent, and crushed Lamont in the general election.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 20 July 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of overwhelmed for Spanish Speakers

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