1
as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
a great overflow of water from the heavy rains swept mud and silt down onto the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surpluses
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed
an overflow of help actually made the job more complicated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in spills
to flow over the brim or top of
while the wine steward stood there gawking at the nearby celebrity, my expensive champagne was overflowing its glass and pouring onto our table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in engulfs
to cover with a flood
the swollen river overflowed the surrounding land and washed several houses away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overflows
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
However, long-term problems persist as completely eliminating overflows will take decades, according to officials.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The buildup can also clog sewage systems, leading to overflows that send raw sewage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Officials at the Water Reclamation Authority are pursuing new goals after the utility was officially released last year from a pair of longstanding legal agreements that required the utility to address sewer overflows, leading to major investments across the system.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
Human waste and trash overflows became so problematic at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California that the parks were forced to close, according to the association.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Post updated to remove comparison to buffer overflows and SQL injections.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
What has the city done about the overflows?
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Gussie Maguire, a Maryland staff scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, told The Hill that sewage overflows are more common than many may realize.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The villain, Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, overflows with humanity, too.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The policy also reduces the chance of being seated next to a passenger who overflows into adjacent seats.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Mass migration, overflows at the border, and worsening street conditions because of drug dealing and crime in San Francisco are some of the issues Karina Velasquez started paying more attention to after the 2020 elections.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The basement floods when nearby Hogans Creek overflows.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
However, long-term problems persist as completely eliminating overflows will take decades, according to officials.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The buildup can also clog sewage systems, leading to overflows that send raw sewage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Officials at the Water Reclamation Authority are pursuing new goals after the utility was officially released last year from a pair of longstanding legal agreements that required the utility to address sewer overflows, leading to major investments across the system.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
Human waste and trash overflows became so problematic at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California that the parks were forced to close, according to the association.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Post updated to remove comparison to buffer overflows and SQL injections.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
What has the city done about the overflows?
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Fixing those backups is expensive, and sometimes clogging can cause sewage overflows into streets, yards, rivers and lakes.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Gussie Maguire, a Maryland staff scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, told The Hill that sewage overflows are more common than many may realize.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The villain, Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, overflows with humanity, too.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The policy also reduces the chance of being seated next to a passenger who overflows into adjacent seats.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The football world overflows with thin-skinned, insecure coaches.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Mass migration, overflows at the border, and worsening street conditions because of drug dealing and crime in San Francisco are some of the issues Karina Velasquez started paying more attention to after the 2020 elections.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
The basement floods when nearby Hogans Creek overflows.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflows
Noun
-
The camp’s emergency instructions told campers to stay in cabins during floods, violating Texas law requiring youth camps have evacuation procedures.—
Emily Foxhall,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Among the recent victims were a father and son swept away by a landslide in Arequipa, as well as a police officer in Lima who drowned in the Rimac River while attempting to rescue a dog trapped by the Andean floods.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Inflation followed and hit a high of 9%, weakening the dollar and repricing government debt to match expected future primary surpluses.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
For many reasons Texans are overtaxed as witnessed by the governor claiming surpluses.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Where to spot celebrities in Austin For all its badge-only access, SXSW still spills into the city.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
-
At the end of ski season in mid- to late April, Snow on the Beach is a quirky event where participants don beachwear and sprint across the thawing lake at the foot of the slopes before the whole thing spills into a splash party.—
Claire Sibonney,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Netanyahu has been engaged in a three-year effort, even during the war in Gaza, to carry out a judicial coup that would all but eliminate the separation of powers in Israel — one that enables its Supreme Court to check the excesses of the governing political party.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The media tired of his excesses.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Additionally, some of the visual scenery projected behind and above the set doesn’t always embrace but overwhelms the acting below.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In practice, fluent dialogue quickly overwhelms reflective distance.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On weekdays and weekends, the dining room buzzes with conversation as people of all ages enjoy dim sum.—
Eddie Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Your 3rd House of Communication buzzes when the instinctive Moon enters, inspiring quick messages and neighborly chats that brighten your day.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflows. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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