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
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 overflows
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
The contamination, according to the organization, is often caused by sewage overflows, waste from large-scale farming, and urban runoff.
—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2026
Researchers believe periodic flooding and river overflows helped preserve the eggs by covering them in sediment millions of years ago.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
As long as the 83/17 split remains in place, protecting local waterways from combined sewer overflows will continue to exacerbate the water affordability crisis in Detroit.
—
Nicole Van Lier,
The Conversation,
13 May 2026
That can allow attackers to leverage serious vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and memory leaks to compromise devices.
—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
And in places where sewage and rain flow through the same pipes, heavy rains made worse by climate change can make overflows to waterways more frequent and severe.
—
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
During a raucous and at times contentious meeting that lasted more than three hours, residents said the facility would damage drinking water quality, and harm the environment, frequently citing concerns about both potential flooding and overflows and about the ongoing drought.
—
Liz Teitz,
San Antonio Express-News,
11 Feb. 2026
Daniel Bain,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
The background jar stands alone, while the piece in the foreground overflows with a rainbow of plants, flowers, fruit, chamoy candies, gummies and a single real butterfly.
—
Stephanie Shih
june 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Our deals page overflows with offers.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
17 June 2026
Fuchsia ‘Cascade’ overflows from containers with hanging blooms from early summer to fall.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
The roster overflows with talent, maybe enough to place it on the precipice of a dynasty.
—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
On a holy holiday, the Muslim Community Center of Chicago overflows with the faithful.
—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Social Circle says the detention center would place undue strain on the city's already limited water and sewage capacity, and could lead to water shortages and sewage overflows for its residents.
—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Social media overflows with posts that have the outline of something inspiring, vulnerable, or provocative, but are hollow underneath.
—
Jamil Zaki,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Noun
As Connecticut’s climate changes, more frequent and intense storms have lead to more overflows.
—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
The contamination, according to the organization, is often caused by sewage overflows, waste from large-scale farming, and urban runoff.
—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2026
Researchers believe periodic flooding and river overflows helped preserve the eggs by covering them in sediment millions of years ago.
—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
As long as the 83/17 split remains in place, protecting local waterways from combined sewer overflows will continue to exacerbate the water affordability crisis in Detroit.
—
Nicole Van Lier,
The Conversation,
13 May 2026
That can allow attackers to leverage serious vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and memory leaks to compromise devices.
—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
And in places where sewage and rain flow through the same pipes, heavy rains made worse by climate change can make overflows to waterways more frequent and severe.
—
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
During a raucous and at times contentious meeting that lasted more than three hours, residents said the facility would damage drinking water quality, and harm the environment, frequently citing concerns about both potential flooding and overflows and about the ongoing drought.
—
Liz Teitz,
San Antonio Express-News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Those who have lived in Pittsburgh for years have witnessed incidents, including oil spills and sewage overflows, that invite skepticism about river safety.
—
Daniel Bain,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
The background jar stands alone, while the piece in the foreground overflows with a rainbow of plants, flowers, fruit, chamoy candies, gummies and a single real butterfly.
—
Stephanie Shih
june 17,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Our deals page overflows with offers.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
17 June 2026
Fuchsia ‘Cascade’ overflows from containers with hanging blooms from early summer to fall.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
The roster overflows with talent, maybe enough to place it on the precipice of a dynasty.
—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
On a holy holiday, the Muslim Community Center of Chicago overflows with the faithful.
—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Social Circle says the detention center would place undue strain on the city's already limited water and sewage capacity, and could lead to water shortages and sewage overflows for its residents.
—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Social media overflows with posts that have the outline of something inspiring, vulnerable, or provocative, but are hollow underneath.
—
Jamil Zaki,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overflows
Noun
-
Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Wednesday, nearly a year after catastrophic floods killed 25 girls, two teenage counselors, and the director at the all-girls Christian camp in Texas.
-
In total, last July’s monstrous floods killed at least 136 people along the Guadalupe River in Texas Hill Country.
Noun
-
And while average state surpluses over the past decade have surpassed that number many times over, Connecticut’s budget is subject to a spending cap that ties its own growth to household income and inflation.
-
As those temporary surpluses faded, homelessness spending fell sharply.
Verb
-
Around the corner, sunlight spills across the wooden floors at Arcadia Books.
-
Otherwise, the charming village of Moltrasio—a jumble of ochre houses, a cooperative market, a couple of trattorie, a gelateria, and narrow streets that confound drivers—spills from the slopes of Mount Bisbino to the lake.
Verb
-
Money earned from chip sales abroad quickly flows out to buy stocks like Nvidia, creating persistent downward pressure on the won that overwhelms export gains.
-
Bold pink, yellow, and blue tile typically overwhelms a bathroom, dictates its overall color scheme, and limits decor choices.
Verb
-
Just as the pair were celebrating finally taking Evan off-island for father-son bonding time on the mainland, a knock on the door bursts their bubble.
-
Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.
Noun
-
Heavy rainfall in the area caused torrents and increased the risk of landslides, making rescue operations more difficult, state media said.
-
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.
Noun
-
Stylish excesses are dialed back as cleaner camerawork, steadier editing and Farrell’s tender narration let the character breathe, blending sci-fi curiosity with classic detective-story stakes.
-
And some creators, like Yeezy, see their right to print guns as an essential bulwark against the darkest excesses of America’s current government.
Verb
-
Every once in a while, a player buzzes in with an answer that truly catches fans off-guard.
-
So when something goes on in markets that inspires exuberance or fear, my phone buzzes.
Cite this Entry
“Overflows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overflows. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
