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
Receipts actually fell $5 billion (1%) for the month even as income and payroll tax collections rose $31 billion (11%), because the customs-duty reversal overwhelmed that gain. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Parents searching for breathing exercises for kids often want tools that work in the moment, when a child feels overwhelmed by schoolwork, social pressure or big emotions. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
After sharing her story online, Herzog says she was overwhelmed by messages from women who recognized themselves in her experience. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 Standing amid the ruins of the villa and grotto, you might be overwhelmed by the ancient mythology that electrifies the air here. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 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
  • One bewildered South African man said protesters had burst into his home and stolen the lunch from his plate.
    — Julie Bourdin, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • Melissa Fresses, Maribel's sister, said she was devastated by the news.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Anny Liu of Altadena was introduced to Jackie and Shadow in January 2025 — the month the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated swaths of Los Angeles County.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastated
Verb
  • Roads and dozens of homes were also flooded and some areas remained without power.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The bars are flooded with single people dressed in their sexiest getups and looking vaguely uncomfortable.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of flooded
Adjective
  • Madden 27 is launching with staggered access, beginning August 6 for MVP+ members.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That will be followed by staggered releases of about 7% of total shares at regular intervals through October, another unlock tied to the company's third-quarter earnings and a final release after 180 days.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of staggered
Verb
  • Crowley overcame Francesca Hong in dramatic, narrow fashion in Tuesday's primary, stunning pundits and pollsters who had long placed Hong as the front-runner.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • El-Sayed overcame funding disadvantage The stark contrasts in candidate funding led to differences in advertising strategies and appeals to different groups of voters.
    — Michael Traugott, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of overcame
Verb
  • The trailer was fully engulfed when crews arrived, the sherriff’s office said.
    — Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Aerial images of the site showed a massive debris field around the remains of a house that was engulfed in flames.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of engulfed
Adjective
  • Motorcycle gunmen opened fire on Gastélum as stunned viewers watched online.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Rushdie, who was about to speak on writers’ safety, was slashed 15 times in front of a stunned audience.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of stunned
Verb
  • Oxman lost her mother after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and this February, Ackman’s eldest daughter, Lucy, was found unresponsive in her apartment after a brain hemorrhage that crushed her optic nerve and destroyed her ability to speak.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Jansen & Oncins crushed Mixed-1, while Christian and Acevedo squeaked out Mixed-2 12-10 to force a DB.
    — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of overwhelmed for Spanish Speakers

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