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
Drew Kann, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
The City maintains reimbursement programs for certain wet-weather sanitary sewer overflows; however, eligibility is governed by specific criteria.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
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
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
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
The City of Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management is building an underground vault with a park on top to improve stormwater management, enhance drainage, and decrease flooding and sewer overflows that have historically impacted the area.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
The City maintains reimbursement programs for certain wet-weather sanitary sewer overflows; however, eligibility is governed by specific criteria.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflows
Noun
-
The National Guard provides help for floods, fires and other disasters in red and blue states across the country, including in Florida.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The heavy influx of rain this week also means there is a risk for localized floods, which is another reason to be monitoring the weather this week.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These surpluses were credited to the OASI trust fund.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
San Diego officials say this is groundbreaking stuff in the water world, creating new mechanisms and legal frameworks to transfer water from where there are surpluses to where there’s need.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Life spills outside though, where the terraces offer a front-row seat to the famously dramatic cliffs and sea.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The reservoir leads over to the Englebright Dam, which spills into the Lower Yuba River and flows all the way downstream.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 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
-
Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
In terms of design, Callum has stopped short of Wood & Pickett’s past excesses, giving the Mini more visual attitude without eroding its classic identity.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Over the past year, ICE has been responsible for many of the worst excesses of this administration, taking a hatchet to due process and other civil protections, and visiting violence upon our communities.—
Kica Matos,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 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
-
From early morning until sunset, the property buzzes with energy.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
On the ground level, Gaia Bar, situated in a quiet courtyard, is the place to enjoy a signature craft cocktail, while just outside, Athens buzzes with activity.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overflows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflows. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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